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B.  FAY    MIT.LS. 


MILLS'  MEETINGS 
MEMORIAL  VOLUME 


^  JUI  12   iq45    * 


AN  ACCOUNT   OF  THE  GREAT   REVIVAL   IN   CINCINNATI   AND  COVINGTON, 
JANUARY  2ist  TO    MARCH   6th,   1892,  UNDER  THE   LEADERSHIP  OF  THt 
DISTINGUISHED  EVANGELIST,  REV.  B.  FAY  MILLS,  ASSISTED   BY  THE 
EMINENT  GOSPEL  SINGER,  MR.  LAWRENCE  B.  GREENWOOD  ;  AND 
ALSO,  FOR  A   PART  OF  THE  TIME   BY  REV.  J.  WILBUR   CHAP- 
MAN, D.D.,  AND    MR.  GEO.  C.   STEBBINS ;   CONTAINING   A 
COMPLETE   HISTORY  OF  THE   ENTIRE   EVANGELISTIC 
MOVEMENT,   WITH     SERMONS,   SONGS,    REPORTS, 
COMPLETE    LIST   OF    THE    COMMITTEES,  ETC. 


EMBELLISHED    WITH    OVER    ONE    HUNDRED    ILLUSTRATIONS 


EDITED yfeV 


JOHN  JUNKINVFRANCIS,  D.D. 

ASSISTED  BY 

CHARLES   B.  MORRELL,  M.D. 


PREPARED  AND  PUBLISHED  BY  AUTHORITY  OF  THE  "MILLS  MEETINGS 
EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE." 


CINCINNATI 

THE  STANDARD  PUBLISHING  COMPANY 

PUBLISHERS  OF  CHRISTIAN  LITERATURE 


Copyrighted,  1892,  by 
The  Standard  Publishing  Co. 


■50   TV\t 

\s 


PREFACE. 

The  object  of  this  volume  is  to  preserve,  in  permanent 
form,  the  history  and  leading  features  of  the  remarkable 
evangelistic  movement  in  Cincinnati  and  Covington,  under 
the  leadership  of  the  distinguished  evangeli.st,  Rev.  B.  Fay 
Mills,  in  which  seventy-three  churches,  of  sixteen  different 
denominations,  and  representing  more  than  twenty  thousand 
communicants,  united  for  the  purpose  of  holding  a  series  of 
great  union  revival  services  during  the  Winter  of  1892. 

The  idea  of  the  publication  of  such  a  memorial  was  not 
suggested  until  the  meetings  had  been  in  progress  several 
weeks.  The  proposition  was  first  presented  by  the  chair- 
man. Dr.  Simpson,  to  the  Executive  Committee,  and  at  once 
received  the  hearty  approval  and  endorsement  of  the  Com- 
mittee. An  Editorial  Committee  was  appointed  to  consider 
the  matter,  and  in  confirmation  of  the  report  of  this  Com- 
mittee, the  entire  charge  of  the  publication  and  sale  of  the 
book  was  committed  to  The  vStandard  Publishing  Com- 
pany, 16,  18  and  20  East  Ninth  street. 

The  preparation  of  the  contents  of  the  volume  was  en- 
trusted by  the  Executive  Committee  to  an  editor  elected  b}' 
the  Committee  from  their  own  number,  for  whom  The; 
Standard  Publishing  Company  provided,  with  the  ap- 
proval of  the  Executive  Committee,  a  thoroughh'  efficient 
assistant  editor,  in  Dr.  Charles  B.  Morrell. 

limitations. 

Owing  to  the  limitations  of  time,  it  was  necessary  for  the 
editors  to  prepare  the  entire  contents  of  the  volume  within 


vi  rKi<:i'ACii:. 

less  than  four  weeks  from  the  day  on  which  the  first  page  of 
copy  was  given  to  the  printers,  making  an  average  of  about 
twenty  printed  pages  every  day.  This,  moreover,  was 
undertaken  under  the  pressure  of  other  exacting  duties. 
The  editors,  therefore,  can  not  hope  to  have  avoided  errors, 
either  in  the  plan  or  the  execution  of  the  work,  nor  to  have 
met  the  widely  varying  wishes  of  all.  The  suggestions  were 
almost  as  diversified  as  the  number  of  friends  from  whom 
thej^  came.  There  were  those  who  expressed  the  desire  that 
the  book  should  consi.st  almost  exclusively  of  the  sermons 
preached  by  the  evangelists.  Others  were  equally  urgent  in 
insisting  that  the  sermons  should  be  almost  entirely  omitted. 
Some  wished  prominence  to  be  given  to  one  feature;  others 
urged  the  magnifying  of  another  feature.  Nevertheless, 
these  suggestions  were  all  gratefull}'  received  and  considered, 
although  it  was  impossible  to  comply  with  all.  By  as  careful 
a  calculation  as  could  be  made,  a  complete  report  of  all  the 
services  and  vS^rmons  would  have  filled  a  volume  of  not  less 
than  three  thousand  pages,  or  seven  books  the  size  of  this. 

As  stated  on  pages  27  and  28,  the  effort  has  been  made 
to  omit  no  important  characteri.stic  of  the  work,  but  to  touch 
more  or  less  fully  upon  all  the  distinctive  features  of  the 
services.  In  this  we  have  received  valuable  assistance  from 
the  obliging  representatives  of  the  daily  press  of  the  city, 
and  from  a  number  of  gentlemen  and  ladies,  mentioned  be- 
low, who  have  kindly  furnished  much  interesting  material, 
and  aided  us  in  many  ways. 

SCOPE  OF  THE    WORK. 

A  glance  at  the  "Table  of  Contents"  will  give  an  idea  of 
the  scope  of  the  work.  Especial  attention  is  called  to  the 
fact  that  the  historical  information,  as  to  the  origin  and  de- 


Preface.  vii 

velopment  of  the  movement,  and  the  work  of  the  Executive 
Committee,  contained  in  the  opening  chapters,  which  will 
be  new  to  the  general  reader,  has  been  obtained  entirely 
from  the  official  records  of  the  Evangelical  Alliance  and  the 
Executive  Committee,  and  is  in  many  instances  given  in  the 
exact  words  of  these  records. 

In  the  chapter  on  the  "Six  Other  Committees"  we  have 
embodied  almost  the  entire  text  of  Mr.  Mills'  little  book  of 
"Suggestions  to  Committees."  The  biographical  sketches  of 
the  evangelists  and  their  musical  assistants  have  received 
the  most  careful  attention,  and  may  be  relied  upon  as  ac- 
curate. 

The  two  hundred  or  more  pages,  beginning  with  the 
opening  night  on  Walnut  Hills,  containing  the  reports  of  the 
numerous  and  varied  services  in  the  different  districts  and  in 
Music  Hall,  have  been  prepared  with  great  labor  and  care  by 
Dr.  MoRRELL,  who  has  given  to  the  complicated  and  difficult 
undertaking  his  untiring  and  enthusiastic  efforts,  and  his 
ripe  experience.  The  editor  wishes  to  express  to  his  es- 
teemed and  faithful  assistant  his  heartiest  thanks  and  appre- 
ciation. 

The  following  sermons  are  given  in  full,  viz.:  "Agonizing 
Prayer,"  preached  by  Mr.  Mills,  in  St.  Paul  M.  E.  Church; 
"Motherhood,"  by  Mr.  Mills,  in  Music  Hall;  "The  Five 
Crowns,"  by  Dr.  Chapman,  in  the  Presbyterian  Church  on 
Mt.  Auburn;  "  Forsaking  All  for  Christ,"  by  Dr.  Chapman, 
in  the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  Covington.  Also  Mr. 
Mills'  address  at  the  Sabbath-school  Conference  in  the  Y. 
M.  C.  A;  Dr.  Chapman's  address  at  Ministers'  Conference  in 
the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  on  Fourth  street ;  and  the 
address  of  Mrs.  Ballington  Booth,  in  the  Baptist  Church 
on  Mt.  Auburn. 


viii  Preface. 

Besides  these  complete  stenographic  reports,  the  sub- 
stance of  many  other  sermons  is  given.  There  are  also  full 
reports  of  an  "  After-meeting,"  a  "  Good  Cheer  Meeting," 
a  "  Sunday-school  Service,"  the  "  Ladies'  Prayer-meetings," 
the  "  Noonday  Prayer-meetings,"  the  services  held  by  Mr. 
Mills  in  the  Bethel,  the  House  of  Refuge,  the  Work  House, 
and  special  services  in  churches  ;  together  with  descriptions 
of  the  "  INIidvveek  Sabbath,"  the  great  audiences,  the  "  Ushers' 
Banquet,"  the  "  Farewell  Banquet,"  the  magnificent  chorus- 
choir,  the  closing  service,  etc.,  etc.  Two  of  the  most  popular 
solos  sung  at  the  meetings,  one  by  Mr.  Greenwood  and 
one  b}'  Mr.  Stebbins,  are  given,  both  words  and  music. 
Farther  on  in  the  volume  will  be  found  a  chapter  written  by 
one  of  the  mo.st  prominent  pastors  of  the  city,  on  the 
results  and  impressions  of  the  meetings  a  brief  history  of 
the  Evangelical  Alliance  of  Cincinnati,  by  another  promi- 
nent pastor;  and  a  number  of  interesting  "incidents"  of 
the  work.  We  give  also  the  report  of  the  Committee  on 
Finance,  and  the  complete  ofiicial  report  by  Mr.  Menden- 
HALL,  of  the  "  Inquirers'  Cards"  signed  during  the  meetings, 
with  the  preferences  of  the  signers.  In  the  Appendix  we  give 
the  official  "  Manual "  issued  by  the  Executive  Committee, 
revised  and  enlarged,  containing  the  list  of  districts;  the 
dates  of  the  services;  the  complete  roll  of  the  churches  cooj>- 
erating  in  the  movement;  the  names  and  addresses  of  the 
pastors;  the  names  and  addresses  of  the  members  of  the 
Executive  Committee,  of  the  General  Committees,  of  the 
district  officers,  and  the  thirty-six  District  Committees;  fol- 
lowed by  a  partial  roll  of  the  canvassers,  a  complete  roll  of 
the  ushers,  and  a  complete  roll  of  the  great  chorus-choir — 
the  entire  Manual  containing  the  names  of  nearly  two  thou- 
sand men  and  women.      The  most  earnest  effort  has  been. 


Preface.  ix 

made  by  both  the  editors  and  the  publishers  to  make  these 
rolls  as  complete  and  accurate  as  possible.* 

THE    PUBLISHERS   AND    THEIR   WORK. 

The  Standard  Publishing  Company,  from  whose 
house  this  volume  is  issued,  has  spared  neither  expense  nor 
effort  to  make  it,  in  mechanical  execution,  a  fitting  memorial 
of  this  great  revival  movement.  The  exceptionally  fine 
equipment  of  this  great  publishing  house  has  been  employed 
freely  for  this  purpose.  The  editors  are  under  man}^  obliga- 
tions to  the  company,  and  especially  to  its  chief  officers,  Mr. 
Russell  Errett,  and  Mr.  W.  H.  Sutherland,  for  their 
uniform  courtesy,  and  for  the  valuable  assistance  rendered 
in  so  many  ways  in  carrying  forward  the  work  to  a  speed}' 
and  satisfactory  completion.  It  is  worthy  of  note  that 
every  part  of  this  work  has  been  done  by  the  Standard  Pub- 
lishing Company  within  its  own  establishment,  including  the 
printing,  the  photo-engraving  of  churches.  Music  Hall,  etc., 
the  portraits  of  the  evangelists,  ministers  and  laymen,  and 
the  binding.  The  numerous  and  fine  illustrations  which 
adorn  the  book,  which  will  doubtless  be  regarded  as  its 
crowning  feature,  and  which  make  it  an  exceedingly  appro- 


■■■  Owing  to  the  fact  that  the  first  half  of  the  book,  and  also  of  the 
Manual,  was  electrotyped  as  soon  as  completed,  two  or  three  changes  in 
names  or  numbers  will  be  noticed  in  the  latter  half.  The  principal  dif- 
ference of  this  kind — the  only  important  one— is  in  connection  with  the 
General  Committee  on  Music.  On  pages  29  and  42,  and  especially  on 
page  58,  Mr.  Joyce  is  mentioned  as  chairman  of  the  Music  Committee, 
and  Mr.  C.  A.  Sanders  as  vice  or  acting  chairman.  It  was  learned 
afterwards,  when  too  late  to  make  the  change  in  these  places,  that,  on 
account  of  necessary  absence  from  the  city,  Mr.  Joyce  had  early  resigned 
the  chairmanship  of  this  committee,  and  Mr.  Sanders  had  been  elected 
chairman,  and  served  as  such  throughout.  This  correction  is  made  in 
the  roll  of  the  officers  and  members  of  the  choir,  at  the  end  of  the 
Appendix,  where  the  committee  is  correctly  given. 


X  Preface, 

priate  and  beautiful  souvenir  of  the  remarkable  movement 
which  it  commemorates,  have  been  prepared  by  the  publishers 
without  regard  to  expense.  The  preparation  and  arrange- 
ment of  these  portraits  and  other  illustrations  have  been  left 
entirely  in  the  hands  of  the  publishers.  As  stated  in  the 
original  announcement  of  the  book,  these  illustrations,  as 
determined  by  the  Executive  Committee,  were  to  include 
portraits  of  the  four  evangelists,  of  the  members  and  advis- 
ory members  of  the  Executive  Committee,  and  of  the  pastors 
of  all  the  churches  identified  with  the  movement,  and 
pictures  of  the  churches  in  which  the  principal  meetings 
were  held.  To  these  were  afterwards  added  as  a  very 
valuable  feature,  the  portraits  of  the  fifteen  business  men 
who  were  members  of  the  six  General  Committees,  together 
with  Mr.  Mendenhall  who  had  charge  of  the  cards,  and  Dr. 
MoRRELL,  the  assistant  editor,  making  ninety-eight  portraits 
in  all.  Every  effort  was  made  to  secure  all  of  these  por- 
traits. A  very  few  were  not  obtained,  the  reason  in  most  of 
these  cases  being  the  inability  to  take  an  active  part  in  the 
work,  and  hence  a  reluctance  to  appear  to  have  been  active. 
No  distinctions  have  been  made  in  these  portraits  (except  in 
the  case  of  the  evangelists),  all  being  engraved  alike,  and 
the  arrangement  being  determined  solely  either  by  districts, 
or  as  a  matter  of  convenience. 

It  is  proper  to  .state  in  this  connection  that  Mr.  Mills 
has  no  connection  whatever,  editorially,  financially,  or  in 
any  other  way,  with  the  preparation,  publication,  or  sale  of 
this  book.  The  editors  consulted  with  Mr.  Mills  frequently 
and  freely  as  to  the  choice  of  the  sermons  to  be  published, 
and  for  the  information  and  advice  which  he  might  see  fit  to 
give  on  other  points,  but  only  for  the  sake  of  his  judgment. 
He  has  no  editorial  or  financial  interest  in  the  work.     Nor, 


Preface.  xi 

we  may  add,  does  any  part  of  the  proceeds  of  the  sale  of  the 
book  go  to  either  the  editors  or  the  Executive  Committee, 
except  that  the  publishers  have  voluntarily  offered  to  the 
Executive  Committee  a  percentage  of  such  sales  as  may  be 
made  by  the  Committee,  to  be  devoted  to  some  worthy  char- 
itable or  Christian  object. 


With  these  explanatory  and  prefatory  words,  this  Me- 
morial Volume  is  sent  forth,  with  the  earnest  wish  that  it  may 
not  only  be  an  acceptable  memento  to  those  who  have  shared 
directly  in  the  blessings  of  the  "  Mills  Meetings,"  but  that  it 
may,  by  God's  favor,  serve  as  a  channel  to  convey  the  influ- 
ence of  this  wonderful  work  of  grace  beyond  the  limits  of 
our  own  city,  and  so  aid  in  extending  the  Kingdom  of  our 

Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ  elsewhere. 

J.  J.  F. 

J.  J.  Francis, 

J.  Z.  Tyler, 
J.  W.  Simpson, 

Editorial  Committee. 


NOTE  OF  THANKS. 


The  editors  of  this  Memorial  Volume  desire  to  make 
grateful  acknowledgment  of  the  helpful  suggestions  and 
interest  of  many  friends,  and  especially  to  express  their  sin- 
cere thanks  for  valuable  assistance  rendered  them,  to  the 
chairman,  secretary,  and  members  of  the  Executive  Com- 
mittee ;  to  the  daily  press  of  the  city,  especially  to  Mr.  J.  C. 
Hagar,  of  the  "  Times-Star ;  "  Mr.  A.  S.  Bickham,  of  the 
"Commercial  Gazette;"  Mr.  J.  A.  Homan,  of  the  "  Enquirer;" 
and  Mr.  Keen,  of  the  "  Evening  Post ; "  and  to  Mr.  George 
E.  Malsbary,  Stenographer  of  the  Executive  Committee ; 
Rev.  A.  Ritchie,  D.  D.,  Secretary  of  the  Evangelical  Alliance ; 
Mr.  C.  A.  Sanders,  Grand  Chief  Usher  ;  Mr.  A.  W.  Mac- 
BRAiR,  Choir  Secretary ;  Mr.  Wm.  Mendenhall,  Card  Sec- 
retary ;  Mr.  Louis  Mauss,  Treasurer ;  Mr.  J.  E.  Q.  Maddox, 
Finance  Secretary  ;  Mrs.  M.  E.  Trout,  Mrs.  Henriette  M. 
Ogborn,  Mrs.  M.  M.  Bowen,  Rev.  William  McKibbin,  D.  D., 
Rev.  D.  J.  Starr,  D.  D..  Rev.  H.  T.  Steward,  D.  D.,  Rev. 
Frank  Granstaff,  Rev.  J.  M.  Anderson,  Mr.  Robert 
Freeland,  Capt.  E.  R.  Monfort. 

JOHN  JUNKIN  FRANCIS. 

CHARLES  B.   MORRELL. 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 
ORIGIN   AND    HISTORY   OF   THE    MOVEMENT. 

The  great  combination.  —  Plan  of  organization.  —  The  ma- 
chiner3'. — Preparatory  steps. — Beginning  of  the  story. — 
Evangelical    Alliance. — Union   prayer-meetings    of    the 

Winter  of  1891. — First  proposition  for  an  evangelist. 

The  original  Executive  Committee. — Rev.  B.  Fay  Mills 
selected. — Correspondence  opened. — Conditions  of  asso- 
ciation.— Letter  from  Mr.  Mills. — The  churches  invited. 
Dr  Simpson  visits  Mr.  Mills. — Mr.  Mills  and  Mr.  Green- 
wood visit  Cincinnati.  —  Perfecting  plans.  —  Sixteen 
weeks  of  earnest  work. — Dr.  Chapman  and  Mr.  Stebbins 
secured. — The  city  districted. — Committees  appointed. — 
Address  to  the  churches  and  pastors. — Mass  meeting, 
January  7,  1892. — All-day  prayer-meetings. — Final  letter 
to  the  pastors. — The  evangelists  arrive. — First  service  on 
Walnut  Hills.— The  story  of  the  Revival. — Who  can  tell 
it? — Results.        .  .  .  ,  .  i_32 

CHAPTER  II. 
THE    EXECUTIVE   COMMITTEE. 

Names  of  members. — Origin  of  the  Executive  Committee. — 
The  child  of  the  Alliance.— First  recorded  minutes. — 
Arranging  details. — Time  for  the  revival  services  fixed. 
Music  Hall  secured.— Office  in  the  Y.  M.  C.  A. — Ex- 
tracts from  the  minutes. — The  Manual  printed. — Rev. 
A.  E.  Thompson,  D.  D. — Welcome  to  Mr.  Mills. — A  Me- 
morial Volume  to  be  prepared. — The  closing  of  business 
houses. — Committee  to  arrange  for  farewell  banquet. — 
Denominational  analysis  of  the  Executive  Committee. — 
Harmony  of  action.      ....  34-46 


xiv  Contents. 

CHAPTER  III. 
THE   SIX   OTHER   COMMITTEES. 

Mr.  Mills'  plan  of  organization. — Constitution  of  the  com- 
mittees.—I.  The  Committee  on  Finance. — Names. — 
Mr.  Mills'  suggestions. — Five  thousand  dollars  needed 
Assessment  on  the  churches.  —  How  the  money  was 
expended.  —  II.  The  Committee  on  Advertising. — 
Names. — Suggestions  of  Mr.  Mills. — Great  work  done. 
Specimens  of  cards  and  tickets  used. — III.  The  Com- 
mittee ON  Canvassing.  —  Names.  —  Duties  of  the 
committee. — Sample  canvassing  cards. — IV.  The  Com- 
mittee ON  Music.  —  Names.  —  Organizing  the  great 
chorus-choir.  —  Mr.  Mills'  suggestions. —  Sample  choir 
tickets  and  pledges. — V.  The  Committee  on  Ushers. 
Names.  —  Importance  of  this  work.  —  Organizing  the 
ushers. — "  Assistant  evangelists." — Grand  Chief  Usher, 
C.  A.  Sanders. — Samples  of  instructions  and  tickets. — 
VI.  The  Devotional  Committee. — Names. — Duties. — 
Suggestions. — Arranging  of  special  services.  47-70 

CHAPTER  IV. 
METHODS  AND  ELEMENTS  OF  SUCCESS. 

General  facts  in  regard  to  the  movement. — Unity  and  cooper- 
ation.— Mr.  Mills  supported  by  the  pastors  and  churches. 
The  power  of  numbers. — Twenty  thousand  people  at 
one  day's  .services. — The  first  night  at  Music  Hall. — Ab- 
sence of  excitement.  —  Deep  solemnity.  —  Carefully 
planned  work. — Attention  to  details. — The  card  system. 
How  worked.  —  Fac-simile  of  the  "  Inquirers'  Card." 
Average  daily  signatures.  —  Mathematical  demonstra- 
tion.—  Golden  opportunities.  —  The  "Midweek  Sab- 
bath."—  Three  thousand  business  houses  closed. —  A 
memorable  day. — Remarkable  scenes. — The  work  of  the 
Holy  Spirit.       .....  71-84 


Contents.  xv 

chapter  v. 

the  evangelical  alliance  to  the  churches. 

Meeting,  January  19,  1892. — Letter  to  the  churches. — Need 
for  the  work. — Faith,  prayer,  and  cooperation  urged. — 
The  meetings  should  have  the  right  of  way.  85-  87 

CHAPTER  VI, 

BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCH    OF   REV.  B.  PAY   MILLS. 

Portrait. — Place  and  date  of  birth. — Parentage. — Mr.  Mills 
at  college. — Licensed  and  ordained. — First  work  in  the 
Black  Hills.  —  Pastorate  in  Rutland,  Vermont.  —  First 
evangelistic  work. — Nine  years  a  pastor. — Becomes  an 
evangelist. — Places  visited. — Present  plan  developed. — 
Mr.  Mills'  home  and  family. — Singers. — Mr.  Mills  as  an 
author.  —  Personal  characteristics.  —  Mr.  Mills  as  a 
preacher. — Fundamental  principles.  .  88-95 

CHAPTER  VII. 
BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCH   OF    MR.  LAWRENCE   B.  GREENWOOD. 

Portrait. — Place  and  date  of  birth. — Collegiate  course. — 
Marriage.  —  Present  home. — Licensed  to  preach.  —  But 
prefers  to  sing  the  Gospel. — Ranks  at  the  top. — Charac- 
teristics of  his  singing. — Ability  to  handle  a  great  choir 
of  one  thousand  voices. — Work  among  inquirers.     96,  97 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

SCHEDULE    OF    MEETINGS. 

Dates  of  meetings. — Places  of  meetings. — Other  meetings  of 
groups  of  churches.  .  .  .  98-100 

CHAPTER  IX. 
WALNUT   HILLS   DISTRICT. 

The  opening  service. — Introductorj'  exercises. — First  singing 
by  Mr.  Greenwood  and  the  choir. — First  words  by  Dr. 
Simpson. — First  prayer  by  Dr.  McKibbin  and  Rev.  \V. 


xvi  Contents. 

E.  lyoucks. — First  sermon  by  Mr.  Mills. — Full  sketch  of 
sermon. — Second  day's  services. — First  Sunday-school 
conference.  —  Meetings  of  teachers.  —  First  Sunday.  — 
Young  people's  ser\ace. — Testimonies. — Men  only. — God 
knocking.— Fifth  day. — Ladies'  prayer-meeting. — Out- 
line of  sermon.  —  Sixth  day.  —  Seventh  day. — "Mid- 
week Sabbath." — Cottage  and  church  prayer-meetings. — 
The  Congregational  Church  overflow. — Remaining  days. 
Women's  union  prayer-meetings  on  Walnut  Hills. 

101-143 

CHAPTER  X. 

MT.   AUBURN    DISTRICT. 

First  service  in  Avondale. — Services  in  Presbyterian  Church, 
^Mt.  Auburn. —  Ladies'  prayer-meeting  in  M.  E.  Church. 
Special  service  in  Baptist  Church. — Service  in  Clifton. 
Address  of  Mrs.  Ballington  Booth  on  Mt.  Auburn,  in 
Baptist  Church. — Sermon  by  Dr.  J.  Wilbur  Chapman,  on 
"The  Five  Crowns."  .  .  .  144-165 

CHAPTER  XI. 
COVINGTON    DISTRICT. 

Opening  night. — Great  interest  from  the  first. — Mr.  Mills 
and  Dr.  Chapman  alternate.  —  Closing  of  business 
houses. — Sermon  by  Dr.  Chapman  on  "Forsaking  All  for 
Christ."  .....  166-176 

CHAPTER  XII. 
EAST  AND   WEST   DISTRICTS    CONSOLIDATED. 

In  the  heart  of  the  city. — Mr.  Mills  and  Dr.  Chapman. — 
First  service  in  St.  Paul  M.  E.  Church. — Sermon  by  Mr. 
Mills,  on  "  Agonizing  Prayer." — First  service  in  Central 
Christian  Church. — Morning  meetings  in  Central  Con- 
gregational Church.  —  Ladies'  prayer  meetings  in  the 
Ninth  street  Baptist  Church. — Full  report  of  Sunday- 
school  Conference  in  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  177-214 


Contents.  xvii 

CHAPTER  XIII. 
BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES. 

Rev.  J.  Wilbur  Chapman,  D.  D.  —  Portrait.  —  Place  and 
date  of  birth  —At  College  and  Theological  Seminary. 
Student  work  in  Indiana.  —  First  charge.  —  Called  to 
Albany.— Now  pastor  of  Bethany  Church,  Philadelphia. 
Doctor  of  Divinity.— Marriage.— Evangelistic  work. — 
Personal  traits.  ....  215-218 

Mr.  George  C  Stebbins.— Portrait.— Place  and  dateof  birth. 
Singing  in  Bo.ston.— Assisting  Mr.  Moody.— Visit  to  In- 
dia, Egypt  and  Palestine.--Song  services  in  Naples,  Rome, 
Paris,  London,  etc.— Joint  author  of  "Gospel  Hymns." 
Popular  songs  written  by  Mr.  Stebbins.         .         218-220 

CHAPTER  XIV. 
ministers'    day. — A   CONFERENCE. 

Subject:  "A  Soul-winning  Church." — Address  by  Dr. 
Chapman.— History  of  Bethany  Church.— Methods  em- 
ployed.— Questions  and  answers.  .  .  220-532 

CHAPTER  XV. 
AFTERNOON     SERVICES,    NINTH    STREET    BAPTIST    CHURCH. 

Distinguishing  features.— Chiefly  for  Christians.— Endue- 
ment   of   power  from  on    High. — Hallowed    memories. 

232-235 
CHAPTER  XVI. 

NOON-DAY    PRAYER-MEETINGS. 

Wonderful  gathering  for  prayer  and  praise. — List  of  topics. 
Good  cheer  meetings. — Testimonies. — Full  report  of  a 
"  Good  Cheer  Meeting."        .  .  .  235-245 

CHAPTER  XVII. 

MR.  MILLS  AT  NORTH  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH. 

Union  service  of  Cumminsville  churches. — Also  Camp  Wash- 
ington and  Winton  Place.— Mr.  Mills  preaches.— Dr. 
Simpson  preaches  to  an  overflow  meeting.  245-246 


xviii  Contents. 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 
A  TYPICAL  SABB.\TH-SCHOOL  SERVICE. 

Carr3'ing  out  Mr.  Mills'  suggestion. — At  the   Fifth  Presby- 
terian Church. — Bringing  a   vSabbath-school  to    Christ. 

246-248 
CHAPTER  XIX. 

MUSIC    HALL    MEETINGS. 

Opening  night  at  Music  Hall. — A  great  crush. — Thousands 
turned  away. — An  inspiring  sight. — ^Mr.  Greenwood  and 
the  grand  choir. — Comprehensive  service. — Bishop  Joyce 
"  Woe  to  them  that  are  at  ease  in  Zion." — Sermon  on 
"  Forsaking  Sin." — "  Is  the  young  man  safe?"  —  "  Secret 
sins."  — "  The  excuses."  —  A  typical  "  after-meeting 
described.— First  Sunda}'  in  Music  Hall.  — Mr.  Mills  at 
the  Union  Bethel.  — Last  "Young  People's  Meeting." 
Afternoon  services  at  Music  Hall. — Mr.  Mills'  sermon 
on  "Motherhood,"  in  full. — The  "Midweek  Sabbath." 
Three  thousand  business  houses  closed. — Remarkable 
scenes. — Three  great  services  at  Music  Hall.  —  Reasons 
for  thankfulness. — Sermon  on  "And  Peter." — Stumbling 
at  noondaj'. —  The  unpardonable  sin. — The  L.a.st  D.\y, 
March  6. — At  the  House  of  Refuge. — At  the  Work  House. 
A  hundred  prisoners  rise  for  prayer. — Afternoon  at 
Music  Hall. — The  choir  present  a  gold  watch  to  Mr. 
Greenwood. — Farewell  Service  — Thousands  turned 
awaj'. — Overflow  meeting  in  the  Odeon.—  Rev.  Johnston 
Myers  preaches. — Mr.  Mills'  last  sermon.  — Farewell 
speeches  by  local  clergymen  and  laymen. — Mr.  Mills  and 
Mr.  Greenwood  say  "  Good-by."  —  Chautauqua  salute. 
"  God  be  with  5'ou  till  we  meet  again."  — The  final  hand- 
shaking.— Special  service  on  Price  Hill.         .         249-329 

CH.A.PTER  XX. 
incidents   of   THE    REVIVAL. 

Incandescence.— Can  a  blind  man  see?— The  Russian  famine 
sufferers.  — Picture  of  the  great  choir. — The  ushers'  ban- 


Contents.  xix 

quet. — Visiting  ushers. — The  ministers'  banquet  at  the 
Gibson  House. — "  Bub,  that 's  the  minister's  chair." — A 
good  schmoker. — Letter  from  Wm.  Mendenhall. — A 
specimen  of  the  Spirit's  work. — Sentences  from  Mr. 
Mills'  last  sermon.     ....  321-333 

CHAPTER  XXI. 
HISTORICAL  SKETCH  OF  THE  EVANGEIvICAL  ALLIANCE. 

Early  history. — Prominent  names. — Constitution  and  doc- 
trinal basis.  ....  334-337 

CHAPTER  XXII. 
THE    FIXANCES. 

Work  of  the  committee. — Letter  to  the  churches. — Treas- 
urer's report. — Famine  collection.  .  338-340 

CHAPTER  XXIII. 

RESULTS — PRESENT  AND  PROSPECTIVE. 

Immediate  results. — Change  in  tone  and  courage  of  the 
churches.  —  The  Lord  magnified.  —  A  wide  work. 
Absence  of  friction. — A  thorough  work. — SuflB.ciency 
of  the  Gospel. — Spirit  of  fraternity. — Value  of  organized 
and  united  effort. — The  tone  of  the  daily  press  friendly. 
"  Cincinnati  for  Christ."       .  .  .  341-349 

CHAPTER  XXIV. 
CARD    SIGNATURES 

Method  of  distribution. — Signatures  by  districts. — Signa- 
tures by  churches. — Signatures  by  denominations. 

350-353 
CHAPTER  XXV. 

REV.    J.    W.    SIMPSON,    D.    D. 

The  leader  of  a  great  movement. — President  of  the  Evan- 
gelical Alliance. — Chairman  of  the  Executive  Committee. 
Respect  and  confidence  of  his  brethren.  .  354 


XX  Contents. 

CHAPTER  XXVI. 

HYMNS. 

Where  Will  Yoii  Spend  Eternity?  words  and  music  ;  a  favor- 
ite solo  of  Mr.  Greenwood's. — Satisfied;  words  and  music, 
a  favorite  solo  of  Mr.  Stebbins.  —  Thy  Gift;  an  Easter 
prelude,  dedicated  to  Mr.  Mills  and  Mr.  Greenwood, 
by  Mary  M.  Bowen.  ,  .  .  355-357 

CHAPTER  XXVII. 
THE  MANUAL. 

List  of  districts. — Cooperating  churches. — Names  and  ad- 
dresses of  pastors. — Executive  Committee. — General 
committees. — District  organizations  and  committees. — 
List  ot  canvassers. — Roll  of  ushers. — Roll  of  the  great 
choir.         .......  359 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


1.  Portrait  of  Rev.  B.  Fay  Mills Frontispiece 

2.  Portraits  of  Revs.  Simpson,  Lewis,  Francis  and  Dr.  Morrell I 


4- 


Portraits  of  Messrs.  Brown,  Sage,  Maddox  and  Manss 4S 

Portraits  of  Messrs.  Howser,  Shutt,  Peck  and  Mendenhall 56 

5.  Portraits  of  Revs.  Bell,  Morris,  Steward  and  Cooper 68 

6.  Portraits  of  Revs.  Warren,  Gilchrist,  Curtis  and  Anderson 78 

7.  Portrait  of  Rev.  B.  Fay  Mills  (full  length) 88 

8.  Portrait  of  Lawrence  B.  Greenwood 9^ 

9.  First  Presbyterian  Church,  Walnut  Hills loi 

10.  Portraits  of  Revs.  Priest,  Bickley,  Neel  and  Keene 104 

11.  Walnut  Hills  M.  E.  Church no 

12.  Walnut  Hills  Congregational  Church 115 

13.  Portraits  of  Revs.  McKibben,  Loucks,  Tannar  and  Griffiths  —   120 

14.  Portraits  of  Revs.  Rust,  Moore,  Tyler  and  Robinson 128 

15.  Mt.  Auburn  Presbyterian  Church I44 

16.  Mt.  Auburn  Baptist  Church I47 

17.  First  Presbyterian  Church,  Covington 160 

18.  First  Presbyterian  Church  (interior) I77 

19.  St.  Paul  M.  E.  Church I79 

20.  Central  Christian  Church  (interior) I95 

21.  Central  Congregational  Church I97 

22.  Y.  M.  C.  A.  Building 202 

23.  Portrait  of  Rev.  J.  W.  Chapman 215 

24.  Portrait  of  Geo.  C.  Stebbins 21S 

25.  Ninth  Street  Baptist  Church 232 

26.  Portraits  of  Revs.  Shannon,  Shirey,  Meyers  and  Markham 234 

27.  Portraits  of  Revs.  Warren,  Pearson,  Holt  and  Starr 238 

28.  Music  Hall 249 

29.  Portraits  of  Revs.  Lockwood,  Dawson,  Walker  and  Robbins —  252 

30.  Portraits  of  Revs.  Ritchie,  Walden,  Lasher  and  Montfort 256 

31.  Portraits  of  Messrs.  Sanders,  Johnson,  Carpenter  and  Joyce 264 

32.  Portraits  of  Messrs.  Hearne,  Gibson,  Morris  and  Webb 266 

33.  Portraits  of  Revs.  Riggs,  Nippert,  McChesney  and  Hall 280 

34.  Portraits  of  Revs.  Granstaff,  Lyman,  LeSourd  and  Smith 290 

35.  Portraits  of  Revs.  Cowden,  Simonton,  McKinney  and  Magruder  300 


XXI 


xxii  List  of  Illustrations. 

36.  Portraits  of  Eevs.  Ince,  Peters,  Sweeney  and  Oetgen 304 

37.  Portraits  of  Revs.  Robertson,  Bailey,  Shorten  and  Simmons 314 

38.  Westminster  Presbyterian  Church,  Price  Hill 319 

39.  Portraits  of  Revs.  Walker,  Payne,  Wagner  and  Curnick 320 

40.  Portraits  of  Revs.  Rishell,  Washburn,  McHugh  and  Fritz 336 

41.  Portraits  of  Revs.  Blackburn,  Sutton,  Young  and  McCabe 345 


V 


\ 


KEV.  J.  W.  SIMPSON,  D.D. 

F:is!or  cf   Congregational   Church. 

Walnut   Hills. 

Chairman  i>r  Mills  Executive  Committee. 


KEV.  E.  S.  LEWIS,  D.D. 

Pastor  of  Trinity  M.  E.  Church. 
.  cretary  of  Mills  E.xeciitive  Committee. 


REV.  J.  J.   I'RANCIS,  D.D. 

Kditor  of  Mill.-.  Meetir.gs  .Memorial  V.jiunit 
Member  ot  .Mills  Kxeciitive  CummUiee. 


CH.\S.  B.  MOKRIU.I.,  M.  D. 

Asso.  iat<-  Editor  of 
Mills   Meetin.es   Memorial   Volume. 


THE  GREAT  REVIVAL 

IN 

CINCINNATI. 


ORIGIN  AND   HISTORY   OF   THE    MOVEMENT. 


The  great  religious  movement  in  Cincinnati,  under 
the  leadership  of  Rev.  B.  Fay  Mills,  will  take  its 
place  in  history  as  one  of  the  most  unique  and  remark- 
able union  evangelistic  efforts  of  modern  times. 
Never  before  in  any  one  city  have  so  many  different 
churches,  representing  so  many  denominations,  been 
enlisted  in  a  similar  manner.  The  preparations  were 
in  progress  continuously  for  more  than  a  year  before 
the  services  began.  Seventy-one  churches,  numbering 
probably  twenty  thousand  communicants,  were  banded 
together  in  one  grand  organization,  for  the  specific 
purpose  of  endeavoring  to  reach  with  the  Gospel  of 
Christ,  and  by  personal  influence,  the  entire  unevan- 
gelized  population  of  the  cities  on  both  sides  of  the 
river. 

In  the  actual  organization,  on  the  various  central  and 
district  committees,  including  the  canvassers,  ushers, 
and  chorus  singers,  were  enrolled  the  names  of  not  less 
than  two  thousand  Christian  men  and  women,  pledged 
to  active  cooperation  and  definite  work,  all  under  the 
direction  of  the  General  Executive  Committee. 


Mills  Meetings 


PLAN    OF   ORGANIZATION. 


The  unique  feature  of  this  great  organization  and 
work  consists  in  the  division  of  the  city  into  districts, 
each  district  having  a  complete  set  of  committees,  and 
the  holding  of  special  services  in  these  districts  succes- 
sively for  a  number  of  days,  under  the  district  com- 
mittees, and  then  massing  all  the  districts  in  a  closing 
series  of  great  union  services  in  a  central  locality  un- 
der a  set  of  central  committees,  made  up  of  the  chair- 
men of  the  respective  district  committees,  and  with 
the  massed  choirs  and  ushers  of  all  the  districts.  The 
idea  of  this  peculiar  form  of  organization,  and  this 
method  of  carrying  on  an  evangelistic  movement  in  a 
large  city,  originated  with  Mr.  Mills,  and  was  first  car- 
ried into  effect,  with  great  success,  in  the  city  of  Cleve- 
land one  year  ago,  in  the  wonderful  revival  services 
held  by  him  in  that  city,  in  which  forty-five  churches 
were  united,  and  which  resulted  in  thousands  of  con- 
versions. 

This  plan,  on  the  most  extensive  scale  ever  yet  at- 
tempted, has  been  brought  to  the  greatest  possible  per- 
fection in  all  its  details  in  the  Cincinnati  organization, 
and  every  minutest  feature  of  it  under  the  personal 
supervision  of  Mr.  Mills.  To  many  of  those  who, 
under  his  direction,  have  been  engaged  in  the  construc- 
tion of  this  extensive  and  apparently  complicated 
machinery,  the  mechanical  features  of  the  preparations 
seemed  at  times  unpleasantly  obtrusive,  and  some  were 
disposed  occasionally  to  criticize,  and  to  question  the 
necessity  or  propriety  of  it  all,  for  a  great  spiritual 
work.  But  Mr.  Mills  was  firm,  and  insisted  upon  at- 
tention  to  every  detail.       When  at    length  the  time 


Memorial  Volume.  3 

came  for  the  services  to  begin,  the  wisdom  of  the  mas- 
ter-mind, which  in  the  Hght  of  a  large  experience  and 
under  the  guidance,  as  no  one  now  doubts,  of  God's 
Spirit,  had  devised  the  entire  scheme  from  beginning 
to  end,  became  at  once  apparent.  The  great  m.achinc, 
so  perfect  in  all  its  parts,  was  put  in  motion,  and  un- 
seen and  unheard  by  the  gathered  multitudes,  itself 
hidden  entirely  from  view,  as  noiselessly  and  smoothly, 
and  yet  as  efficiently,  as  the  mighty  Corliss  engine  at 
the  Centennial,  it  did  its  work,  and  accomplished  its 
purpose.  There  was  no  further  thought  of  criticism. 
Every  one  who  was  familiar  with  its  workings  saw  the 
value  of  it  all,  and  the  marvelous  wisdom  with  which 
it  had  been  planned.  Each  committee,  and  each 
m-cmber  of  each  committee,  had  a  definite  work  to  do, 
and  did  it  without  jar  or  friction.  The  multiplied 
meetings,  the  places  for  them,  the  ministers  in  charge, 
were  arranged  by  the  Devotional  Committee  ;  the  hun- 
dreds of  canvassers  bore  to  every  street  and  alley 
and  home  and  factory  the  tens  of  thousands  of  perso- 
nal and  printed  invitations ;  the  Advertising  Commit- 
tee kept  in  touch  with  the  daily  newspapers,  and  plac- 
arded hundreds  of  bulletin  boards  and  street  cars  and 
churches  and  hotels  daily  with  the  ever-changing  an- 
nouncements, and  flooded  the  city  from  center  to  cir- 
cumference with  hundreds  of  thousands  of  cards  and 
tickets  ;  pledges  for  the  necessary  money  for  all  ex- 
panses of  every  kind  were  quietly  secured  beforehand 
by  the  Finance  Committee,  and  every  bill  paid,  as  it 
was  contracted,  by  the  Treasurer;  every  singer  in 
every  choir  knew  just  at  what  services,  on  what  dates, 
and  in  what  places,  he  was  to  sing ;  and  every  usher 
knew  just  what  seats  in  what  building,  and  on  which 


4  Mills   Meetings 

day  or  evening,  were  to  be  in  his  charge ;  and  all 
the  while,  in  addition  to  two  and  three  preaching  serv- 
ices every  day,  from  his  room  in  the  Gibson  House, 
the  hand  of  the  one  remarkable  man  who  planned  it 
all  rested  daily  and  hourly  upon  every  part  of  the 
work,   and  held  in  its  grasp  every  detail. 

Thus  all  these  mechanical  arrangements  were  thor- 
oughly provided  for,  without  ever  being  brought  into 
the  meetings  to  distract  the  minds  of  the  people,  or  to 
disturb  in  any  way  the  solemnity  of  the  services. 
During  all  the  seven  weeks  of  daily  services  not  a  sin- 
gle collection  was  taken  up,  nor  was  any  reference 
made  to  the  work  of  any  of  the  committees,  and 
probably  there  was  scarcely  one  of  the  vast  multitudes 
who  thronged  the  churches  and  Music  Hall,  listening 
with  rapt  attention  to  the  convincing  Gospel  mes- 
sages as  they  fell  from  the  lips  of  Mr.  Mills  and  Dr. 
Chapman,  or  to  the  persuasive  Gospel  songs  of  Mr. 
Greenwood  and  Mr.  Stebbins,  who  ever  thought  for  a 
moment  of  the  great  machinery  which  was  all  the 
while  so  silently  in  operation,  or  of  the  many  long 
weeks  and  months  of  busy  planning  and  arranging  of 
details  which  lay  back  of  these  public  meetings. 
The  reader  will  do  well  to  bear  this  in  mind,  in  con- 
nection with  the  history  of  these  preliminary  arrange- 
ments which  follows,  (i)  in  order  that  he  may  see 
their  vital  relation  to  the  ultimate  success  of  the  move- 
ment, and  (2)  in  order  that  he  may  know  how  entirely 
they  were  hidden  from  view  when  the  real  evangelis- 
tic work  began. 

Next  to  Mr.  Mills,  the  success  of  the  work  of  plan- 
ning and  organizing  is  due  in  a  large  measure  to  the 
wise,   faithful;    zealous  and  untiring  labors   of  the   efifi- 


Memorial  Volume.  5 

cicnt  and  devoted  chairman,  and  secretary  of  the 
Executive  Committee,  Rev.  J.  W.  Simpson,  D.  D., 
pastor  of  the  Walnut  Hills  Congregational  Church, 
and  Rev.  E.  S.  Lewis,  D.  D.,  pastor  of  Trinity  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Cliurch,  both  of  whom  were  gifted 
with  peculiar  qualifications  for  the  positions  of  grave 
responsibility  to  which  they  were  called ;  and  also  to 
the  chairmen  and  secretaries  of  the  districts,  and  of 
the  various  central  and  district  committees,  and  the 
members  of  the  General  Executive  Committee.  Then, 
in  addition  to  these  leaders,  every  pastor,  every  com- 
mittee-man and  woman,  every  choir-singer,  every  can- 
vasser, and  every  usher  seemed  to  vie  'with  the  rest  to 
do  all  that  faith,  prayer,  and  self-sacrificing  effort  could 
do,  to  aid  in  the  glorious  work  of  bringing  the  whole 
city  to  Christ.  Denominational  differences  were  for- 
gotten, and  the  hearts  of  Christian  people  flowed  to- 
gether in  a  unity  of  desire  and  purpose  and  effort,  such 
as  this  city  has  never  before  witnessed.  It  was  a  real- 
ization in  fact  of  the  ideal  expressed  in  the  words, — 
"One  is  your  Master,  eveii  Christ,  and  all  ye  are 
brethren." 

The  object  of  this  chapter  is  to  give  a  brief  histor- 
ical account  of  this  great  Union  Revival  Movement  in 
Cincinnati,  from  its  inception,  until  the  coming  of 
Messrs.  Mills  and  Greenwood,  and  the  opening  of  the 
services  in  the  First  District,  on  Walnut  Hills.  Other 
historical  facts  in  reference  to  the  preliminary  work 
will  be  found  under  the  head  of  "The  Executive 
Committee." 

preparatory  steps. 

The  first  recorded  action  looking  toward  this  sub- 
sequent   remarkable     development  —  a    development 


6  Mills  Meetings 

wholly  unanticipated,  of  course,  at  that  time — is  given 
in  the  Minutes  of  the  Evangelical  Alliance  of  Cincin- 
nati (an  organization  of  the  ministers  of  the  city,  of 
all  denominations),  under  date  of  Monday,  November 
10,  1890. 

,  At  the  meeting  of  the  Alliance  held  on  that  day  in 
Wiley  Hall,  "the  following  subjects  were  adopted  for 
discussion : — 

"  I. — The  Difficulties  in  the  Way  of  a  General  Revival 
in  this  City;  to  be  opened  by  Dr.  J.  J.  Francis. 

"  II. — Suggestions  as  to  How  the  Desired  General  Re- 
vival can  be  Secured ;  to  be  opened  by  Dr.  John  Pearson." 

This  brief  record  is  the  beginning  of  the  story  of  the 
most  notable  revival  in  the  history  of  this  city.  It  had 
its  origin  in  a  company  of  ministers  of  the  Gospel,  as- 
sembled together  to  consider  the  interests  of  Christ's 
Kingdom.  It  was  not  an  arbitrary  pre-arrangement, 
but  a  gradual  growth,  under  the  guidance,  as  we  be- 
lieve, of  the  Holy  Spirit.  It  was  born  of  the  Spirit  in 
the  hearts  of  these  servants  of  God,  in  a  recognition  of 
the  great  necessity  for  a  "  general  and  mighty  grace  in 
07ir  city,''  and  the  hindrances  in  the  way  of  such  a 
work,  together  with  an  earnest  desire  and  purpose  to 
remove  these  hindrances,  and  to  secure  the  needed 
blessing. 

At  the  next  meeting  of  the  Alliance,  held  Decem- 
ber 8,  1890,  after  a  further  discussion  of  the  same  sub- 
ject, in  which  Bishop  Walden,  Dr.  McKibbin,  Messrs. 
Robbins,  Childs,  Smith,  Dr.  Leonard  and  others  par- 
ticipated, "a  committee,  consisting  of  Drs.  G.  K. 
Morris,  Lasher,  McKibbin,  Tyler,  and  Warrep,  was 
appointed  to  consider  the  question  of  appointing  a  di.y 


Memorial  Volume.  ^  7 

of  humiliation  and  prayer  for  the  outpouring  of  the 
Holy  Spirit  on  the  city.  This  committee  presented  the 
following  report,  which  was  adopted,  and  the  same 
committee  was  continued  to  arrange  for  the  carrying 
out  of  its  recommendations  : 

"  Your  Committee  recommend  that  this  Alliance  urge 
upon  the  individual  churches  of  all  denominations  the  de- 
sirability and  practicability  of  observing  Wednesday  01  the 
Week  of  Prayer  as  a  day  of  special  humiliation  and  prayer ; 
the  day  to  be  observed  as  each  church  may  decide  to  be  the 
wisest  and  best.  We  would  suggest  that  the  thoughts  for 
the  day  bear  directly  upon  the  moral  and  religious  needs  of 
our  city  and  vicinitj-,  and  the  best  method  of  meeting  them. 

"  We  also  recommend  that  a  Union  Midday  Prayer- 
meeting,  with  reference  to  the  same  thought,  be  held  each 
day  during  that  week  at  some  central  point,  to  be  led  on 
succeeding  days  by  pastors  of  different  denominations." 

These  recommendations  were  carried  out,  with 
very  gratifying  results.  During  the  "  Week  of  Prayer" 
beginning  Monday,  Januarys,  1891,  daily  union  noon- 
day prayer  meetings  were  held  at  the  old  building  of 
the  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  Sixth  and  Elm  streets,  led  by  pastors 
of  the  city.  These  meetings  were  characterized  by  spirit- 
uality and  earnestness  to  a  marked  degree.  They  were 
continued  for  several  weeks  afterwards,  and  were  then 
transferred  for  a  time  to  the  First  Presbyterian  Church. 
During  this  entire  period  the  interest  seemed  to  be 
chiefly  among  the  ministers,  whose  hearts  were  bur- 
dened with  a  strong  desire  for  a  blessing  upon  their 
churches. 

On  February  9,  1891,  at  the  meeting  of  the  Evan- 
gelical Alliance,  the  subject  for  consideration  was 
"General  Subject:  The  Religious  Outlook  in  our 
City." 


8  Mills  Meetings 

First  Topic:  'The  Present  Condition  of  the 
Church;"  to  be  opened  by  Dr.  Warren. 

Second  Topic  :  "  The  Results  of  Recent  Revival 
Efforts;"    to  be  opened  by  Dr.  McKibbin. 

Third  Topic:  "Advanced  Steps  to  be  Taken;" 
to  be  opened  by  Dr.  Keen. 

A  committee  consisting  of  Rev.  S.  A.  Keen,  D.  D., 
D.,  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  ;  Rev.  Wil- 
liam McKibben,  D.  D. ,  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  ; 
Rev.  J.  W.  Simpson,  D.  D.,  of  the  Congregational 
Church;  Rev.  E.  K.  Bell,  D.  D.,  of  the  Lutheran 
Church;  Rev.  J.  Z.  Tyler,  D.  D.,  of  the  Christian 
Church ;  Rev.  Johnston  Myers,  of  the  Baptist 
Church ;  Rev.  D.  McKinney,  of  the  Reformed  Pres- 
byterian Church ;  Rev.  J.  C.  Smith,  of  the  Covenanter 
Church,  was  appointed  to  consider  the  whole  subject, 
and  report  to  the  Alliance  next  Monday. 

FIRST    PROPOSITION    FOR    AN    EVANGELIST. 

The  following  Monday,  February  i6,  1891,  this 
Committee  on  Future  Revival  Work  presented  their 
report,  as  follows : 

Your  committee  appointed  to  report  upon  a  co-opera- 
tive plan  of  evangelization  in  this  city,  beg  leave  to  submit 
the  following. 

First.  It  is  the  sense  of  this  committee  that  there 
should  be  held  each  week  a  meeting  of  the  Alliance  for 
prayer  and  conference  respecting  steps  necessary  to  be  tak- 
en in  the  work. 

Second.  That  a  union  daily  prayer  meeting  should  be 
held  daily  at  3  p.  m.,  in  the  business  center  of  the  city. 

Third.  That  a  mass  union  service  be  held  on  Sabbath 
afternoons  in  some  centrally  located  church. 

Fourth.     That  combinations  of  churches  to  hold  union 


Memorial  Volume.  9 

service  be  formed  in  various  parts  of  the  city,  as  the  pastors 
may  decide  among  themselves. 

Fifth.  That  as  early  as  practicable  an  evangelist  of  ac- 
credited power  and  usefulness  be  secured,  to  spend  several 
months  in  our  city  and  vicinity,  taking  the  leadership  of  the 
work.  [Signed],         S.  A.  Keen,  Chairman, 

The  very  gradual  development  of  the  plan  is 
strikingly  indicated  by  the  fact  that  this  report,  adopt- 
ed more  than  three  months  after  the  mception  of  the 
movement,  contains  t\iQ  first  suggestion  or  mention  of  an 
"  evangelist." 

THE    ORIGINAL    EXECUTIVE    COMMITTEE. 

The  report  was  adopted  (with  the  exception  of  the 
tJiird  item),  and  the  carrying  out  of  its  recommenda- 
tions was  referred  to  the  "Executive  Committee  of 
the  Alliance,"  to  which  were  added,  with  reference  to 
this  work,  Dr.  S.  A.  Keen,  Rev.  Johnston  Myers,  and 
Rev.  W.  H.  Warren.  The  members  of  the  commit- 
tee thus  designated  were : 

Rev.  J.W.Simpson,  D.  D„  President;  Pastor  Walnut 
Hills  Congregational  Church. 

Rev.  J.  J.  Francis,  D.  D.,  Vice-President;  Pastor 
Central  Presbyterian  Church. 

Rev.  John  Pearson,  D.  D.,  Vice-President ;  Presid- 
ing Elder  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

Rev.  Wii^IvIAm  McKibbin,  D.  D.,  Vice-President ,  Pas- 
tor Walnut  Hills  First  Presbyterian  Church. 

Rev.  G.  R.  Robbins,  Vice-President;  Pastor  Lincoln 
Park  Baptist  Church. 

Rev.  a.  Ritchie,  D.  D.,  Secretary;  of  Presbyterian 
Church ;  General  Secretary  Western  Tract  Society. 

Rev.  E.  K.  Belt.,  D.  D.,  Mem.  Ex.  Com.;  Pastor  First 
English  Lutheran  Church. 


io  Mills  Meetings 

Rev.  J.  Z.  Tyler,  D.  D.,  Mem.  Ex.  Com.;  Pastor  Cen- 
tral Christian  Church. 

Rev.  G.  K.  Morris,  D.  D.,  Mem.  Ex.  Com.;  Pastor  St. 
Paul  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

Rev.  J.  C.  Smith,  Mem.  Ex.  Com.;  Pastor  Clinton  St. 
Covenanter  Reformed  Presbyterian  Church. 

Rev.  D.  McKinney,  Mem.  Ex,  Com.;  Pastor  First  Re- 
formed Presbyterian  Church. 

Rev.  H.  W.  Gilchrist,  Mem.  Ex.  Com.;  Pastor  First 
Presbyterian  Church. 

Rev.  S.  a.  Keen,  D.  D.,  Special  Member;  Pastor  Wal- 
nut Hills  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

Rev.  Johnston  Myers,  Special  Member;  Pastor 
Ninth  Street  Baptist  Church. 

Rev.  W.  H.  Warren,  Special  Member ;  Pastor  Cen- 
tral Congregational  Church. 

With  the  appointment  of  this  committee,  or  rather 
the  reference  to  it  of  this  special  work,  the  history  of 
the  "Mills  Meetings  Executive  Committee,"  which 
afterwards  had  charge  of  the  entire  movement,  prop- 
erly begins.  (For  a  full  account  of  its  work  see  the 
chapter  on  "The  General  Executive  Committee.") 

The  first  act  of  this  committee,  on  the  very  day  of 
its  appointment,  was  to  direct  its  chairman.  Dr.  Simp- 
son, "to  correspond  with  Rev.  B.  Fay  Mills,  and,  if 
possible,  secure  his  services  for  three  months,  com- 
mencing October  i,  1891,  to  conduct  union  revival 
services  in  this  city,  under  the  auspices  of  the  Evan- 
gelical Alliance."  This  date  (Feb.  16)  is  historically 
important,  as  determining  four  points  :  (i)  the  securing 
of  an  evangelist,  (2)  the  appointing  of  a  committee 
to  take  charge  of  the  work,  (3)  the  selection  of  the 
evangelist,  and  (4)  the  fixing  of  the  time.  The  last  of 
these  (that  is,  the  time  when  the  service  should  begin) 


Memorial  Volume.  i  i 

was  afterwards  twice  changed  to  suit  the  convenience  of 
all  parties.  Some  changes  were  also  made,  from  time 
to  time,  in  the  committee.  But  from  this  date  the 
movement  assumed  a  definite  form.  The  thoughts  of 
the  committee  were  turned  to  Mr.  Mills,  both  because 
of  his  established  reputation  as  an  evangelist,  and 
chiefly  decause  of  the  remarkable  success  attending 
his  labors  in  the  union  services  then  being  held  by  him 
in  the  city  of  Cleveland. 

Dr.  Simpson,  accordingly  put  himself  at  once  into 
communication  with  him  by  correspondence.  The  re- 
sult was  a  conditional  agreement,  which  was  reported 
by  Dr.  Simpson  to  the  committee  immediately,  and 
became  the  basis  of  all  subsequent  plans. 

The  conditions  of  this  agreement  were  substan. 
tially  the  same  as  those  contained  in  Mr.  Mills'  book 
of  ' '  Suggestions  to  Committees  in  charge  of  Speeial 
Meetings  Conducted  by  Rev.  B.  Fay  Mills,''  and  which 
we  give  in  part  below,  or  in  connection  with  the  var- 
ious committees,  in  the  chapters  on  "Committees." 
The  general  conditions  are  as  follows  : 

CONDITIONS   OP  ASSOCIATION. 

1.  That  all  the  churches  concerned  shall  be  considered 
as  one  church,  and  all  the  services  merged  in  the  union 
gatherings,  save  where  exceptions  shall  be  made  with  the 
approval  of  Mr.  Mills. 

2.  That  all  the  affairs  of  the  local  churches  shall  be 
committed  to  their  representatives  on  *  the  General  Com- 

*  In  the  Cincinnati  movement  there  was  710  such  committee  as 
that  which  is  here  designated  as  the  "  General  Committee."  The  work 
in  this  city  originated  with  the  "  Evangelical  Alliance,"  and  hence  the 
"  Evangelical  Alliance  "  practically  took  the  place  of  the  "  General 
Committee."  The  number  of  members,  also,  in  the  various  commit- 
tees differed  from  the  number  suggested  by  Mr.  Mills.  The  Finance 
Committee,  for  instance,  was  made  up  of  two  men  from  each  district, 
making  a  committee  of  ten. — Editor. 


12  Mills  Meetings 

mittee,  who  shall  have  full  authority  to  act  for  every  church 
in  the  combination. 

The  representation  of  any  church  shall  be  understood 
as  expressing  assent  to  these  conditions,  which  should  have 
the  endorsement  not  of  the  pastors  alone,  but  also  of  the 
ffiocial  boards  of  all  the  churches. 

le;tte;r. 

Dear  Brethren  : — I  have  accepted  your  invitation  to 
assist  in  your  contemplated  evangelistic  efforts  with  great 
pleasure.  If  you  have  not  yet  obtained  the  cooperation  of 
all  churches  that  would  naturally  receive  benefit  from  the 
movement,  please  do  so  at  once.  This  cooperation  implies 
the  heartiest  efforts  and  sacrifices  to  make  the  movement  a 
success.  It  must  be  understood  that  during  the  meetings 
they  are  to  form  the  work  of  the  Church,  and  no  ordinary 
church  plans  or  customary  order  must  be  allowed  to  inter- 
fere for  an  instant  with  the  carrying  out  of  the  plans  of  your 
committees.  For  the  time  being,  the  united  churches  are 
to  work  as  one  church,  under  the  directions  of  the  com- 
mittees appointed  by  them.  Do  not  consider  any  sacrifice 
too  great  to  be  made  for  this  eflort.  It  is  in  your  power  so 
to  act  that  God  shall  move  your  city  as  never  before,  and 
you  shall  have  the  greatest  opportunity  of  your  life  for 
Christian  service.  Plan  great  things,  make  great  sacrifices 
and  great  efforts,  and  expect  a  mighty  blessing. 

lyct  each  church  appoint  from  one  to  three  representatives 
on  a  *  general  committee,  so  as  to  make  the  entire  number  not 
far  from  fifteen  ;  unless  the  uniting  churches  number  more 
than  fifteen,  in  which  case  let  each  church  have  one  repre- 
sentative. Let  all  the  active  pastors  be  e.v-officio  members 
of  this  General  Committee,  though  none  of  them  need  nec- 
essarily be  appointed  on  any  sub-committee  but  the  Ex- 
ecutive. 

After  selecting  a  chairman  and  secretary,  appoint  a 
Nominating  Committee  of  one  from  each  denomination  rep- 

*See  note,  foot  of  page  n. 


Memorial  Volume.  13 

resented.     lyct  them  retire  at  once  and  report  the  names  for 
membership  on  the  Executive  Committee,  etc.     .     .     . 

Let  the  Executive  Committee  now  proceed  to  the  consid- 
eration of  the  suggestions  to  them  hereinafter  contained. 
.  .  .  .  In  the  meantime  let  the  Nominating  Committee 
carefully  consider  and  appoint  the  best  men  in  any  of  the 
churches  for 

1.  The  Committee  on  Finance.     3  members. 

2.  The  Committee  on  Advertising.     4  members. 

3.  The  Committee  on  Canvassing.     5  members. 

4.  The  Committee  on  Music.     3  members. 

5.  The  Committee  on  Ushers.     3  members. 

6.  The  Devotional  Committee.  3  members.  ( Select 
this  committee  from  members  of  the  Executive  Committee. 

Each  of  these  committees  is  to  be  independent  of  the 
others,  and  subject  only  to  the  Executive  or  General  Com- 
mittee. 

The  following  suggestions  have  to  be  fitted  to  a  great 
variety  of  places  and  circumstances,  and  so  may  need  to  be 
altered  in  some  cases ;  but  committees  are  urgently  request- 
ed not  do  less  than  is  suggested  herein  without  consultation 
with  me.  Each  committee  has  entire  regulation  of  the 
amounts  to  be  expended  by  them,  and  need  only  report  bills, 
properly  endorsed,  to  the  Committee  on  Finance. 

(Mr.  Mills  then  proceeds  to  address  each  committee 
in  detail,  making  suggestions  which  will  be  found  un- 
der the  heads  of  the  respective  committees,  and  clos- 
ing with  the  following  words  to  the  pastors,  and  a  con- 
cluding earnest  exhortation  to  all  the  people  of  God 
concerned.) 

TO  the;  pastors. 

I  need  not  say  that  the  benefit  your  church  will  receive 
in  our  coming  united  effort,  depends  largely  upon  you.  Plan 
and  work  as  if  it  depended  entirely  upon  you.  Arrange  all 
missionary,   financial,   social,    and   other    not    distinctively 


14  Mills  Meetings 

spiritual  affairs  of  your  congregation,  so  that  no  appoint- 
ments can  by  any  possibility  conflict  with  the  meetings. 

Let  your  ordinary  preaching,  prayer  meetings,  Sundaj^- 
schools,  and  extra  services  for  preaching  and  prayer,  all 
bear  directly  on  the  coming  effort.  I  should  advise  you  to 
hold  at  least  four  or  five  special  services  in  ^-our  own  church 
for  prayer  and  confession  of  sin  and  spiritual  quickening 
before  any  of  the  union  meetings  commence.  Notify  your 
people  repeatedly  that  you  expect  them  to  arrange  their 
social,  business,  domestic  and  other  arrangements  so  that 
they  can  attend  all  the  services,  and  give  their  time  to 
definite  Christian  work.  You  may  find  it  of  interest  to  make 
a  list  of  all  the  unconverted  in  your  congregation,  and  during 
the  month  before  the  meetings  to  make  a  personal  appeal  to 
them  ta  yield  to  the  Master.  The  first  three  or  four  days  of 
the  meetings  will  be  of  the  greatest  importance.  Please 
emphasize  the  value  of  the  afternoon  ser^^ices,  and  state  that 
they  will  generally  not  exceed  an  hour  in  length. 

"  It  is  time  to  seek  the  Lord,  till  He  come  and  rain  right- 
eousness upon  us." 

CONCLUSION. 

Finally,  permit  me  to  say  that  while  you  can  not  over- 
estimate the  desirability  of  careful  preparation,  the  church  and 
pastor  will  receive  the  greatest  benefit  who  are  best  prepared 
spiritually  for  the  work,  and  ready  to  make  the  greatest  sacri- 
fices for  its  success. 

Be  sure  your  own  hearts  are  right  in  the  sight  of  God.  In 
the  closet,  the  home,  the  praj'er  meeting,  the  Sunday-school 
and  the  pulpit,  let  there  be  heart-searching  and  complete 
consecration.  Pra}'  for  me.  Ask  God  to  give  me  humilit}-, 
that  "he  that  soweth  and  he  that  reapeth  may  rejoice 
together."  God's  "set  time  to  favor  Zion  is  come,"  when 
His  people  care  more  for  their  own  and  their  neighbors' 
spiritual  intere.sts  than  for  pleasure,  money,  formality,  pride, 
prejudice  or  convenience. 

I  pray  God  that  I  may  "  come  to  you  in  the  fullness  of  the 
blessing  of  the  Gospel  of  Christ.     Now  I  beseech  you,  breth- 


Memorial  Volume.  15 

ren,  for  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ's  sake,  and  for  the  love  of  the 
Spirit,  that  ye  strive  together  in  your  prayers  to  God  for  me, 
.  .  ,  that  I  may  come  unto  you  with  joy,  by  the  will  of 
God,  and  may  with  you  be  refreshed."  In  weakness  and  in 
fear  and  in  much  trembling,  and  yet  with  confidence  in  God 
and  great  expectations,  I  remain, 

Yours  in  the  Master's  service, 

B.  Fay  Mills. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Alliance  held  March  9,  1891, 
the  minutes  state :  * '  The  action  of  the  Executive 
Committee  was  read  and  approved,  making  the  question 
of  obtaining  Rev.  B.  Fay  Mills  as  an  evangelist  for  a 
short  time  in  our  city  the  question  of  the  day,  for  dis- 
cussion at  this  meeting ;  the  question  involved  (that  is, 
the  conditions  required  by  Mr.  Mills)  to  be  presented 
by  Drs.  Francis  and  Tyler.  Dr.  Francis  read  a  letter 
from  Mr.  Mills,  and  Dr.  Tyler  read  the  Suggestions  to 
Committees  prepared  by  Mr.  Mills,  After  a  full  con- 
sideration it  was  resolved  that  the  matter  be  referred 
to  the  enlarged  Executive  Committee  to  ascertain  what 
churches  are  willing  to  unite  in  the  movement,  and 
agree  to  the  requirements  in  the  case." 

The  special  Executive  Committee  at  once  appointed 
a  committee  of  its  members,  consisting  of  Drs.  Keen, 
Tyler  and  Francis,  to  communicate  with  the  pastors  of 
the  city,  and  ascertain  what  churches  would  pledge 
their  cooperation  in  the  movement.  This  committee 
addressed  the  following  circular  letter,  dated  March  20, 
1 89 1,  to  each  pastor,  accompanied  by  a  copy  of  Mr. 
Mills'  pamphlet  of  "Suggestions:" 

THE    EVANGELICAL    ALLIANCE    OF    CINCINNATI. 

Dear  Brother  :  The  Evangelical  Alliance  of  Cin- 
cinnati has  invited  the  Rev.  B.  Fay  Mills,  Evangelist, 


i6  Mills  Meetings 

to  lead  a  general  revival  movement  in  our  city,  begin 
ning  October  ist,  1891,  to  continue  several  weeks. 

It  is  necessary,  in  order  to  secure  Mr,  Mills'  serv- 
ices, that  the  churches  which  may  join  in  the  move" 
ment  pledge  the  cooperation  of  their  pastors  and  official 
boards  to  the  conditions  under  which  Mr.  Mills  agrees 
to  come.  These  conditions,  together  with  the  plan  of 
the  meetings,  you  will  find  given  in  enclosed  pamphlet. 
Please  call  your  Board  together  soon.  Read  before 
them  this  pamphlet.  Note  particularly  the  following 
conditions : 

1.  Rev.  Mr.  Mills  must  have  the  sole  direction  of 
the  meetings. 

2.  All  the  regular  services  of  the  respective 
churches  must  be  merged  in  the  union  movement  dur- 
ing Mr.  Mills'  leadership. 

3.  The  churches  combining  in  the  movement  must 
agree  to  bear  the  incidental  expenses  of  the  series  of 
meetings. 

We  hope  you  and  your  church  will  ratify  the  action 
of  the  Alliance  by  pledging  your  cooperation  in  this 
movement.  Prompt  action  is  necessary  to  secure  Mr. 
Mills.  Now  is  the  time  to  prepare  for  a  vigorous  cam- 
paign, looking  to  the  evangelization  of  our  city.  We 
have  been  appointed  by  the  Executive  Committee  to 
correspond  with  you  and  receive  your  reply.  Please 
communicate  your  decision  to  Rev.  J.  J.  Francis,  326 
West  Ninth  street,  as  early  as  possible. 

S.  A.  Keen, 
J.  Z.  Tyler, 
J.  J.  Francis, 
March  20th,  i8gi.  Committee. 


Memorial  Volume.  17 

A  few  days  later  (Oct.  19)  Mr.  Mills  notified  the 
Executive  Committee  that  (with  the  approval  of  the 
committee  which  had  previously  been  given)  he  had 
secured  the  assistance  of  Rev.  J.  Wilbur  Chapman, 
D.  D.,  the  pastor  of  the  great  Bethany  Presbyterian 
Church,  Philadelphia,  for  three  weeks  of  the  meetings 
(from  Feb.  i  to  21),  and  that  during  that  time  he  and 
Dr.  Chapman  would  hold  the  meetings  simultaneously, 
first  in  Mt.  Auburn  and  Covington,  and  afterward  in 
the  East  and  West  Districts,  preaching  alternately  in 
the  two  districts  where  the  meetings  were  being  held. 
Afterwards  it  was  arranged  that  Dr.  Chapman  should 
have  associated  with  him  the  distinguished  musical 
composer  and  evangelistic  singer,  Mr.  George  C.  Steb- 
bins.  The  schedule  of  dates  was  accordingly  changed 
to  that  which  was  finally  followed  in  the  meetings. 
Music  Hall  was  at  once  secured  for  two  weeks,  from 
February  22  to  March  7,  and  the  time  to  be  given  to  the 
first,  second  and  third  districts  was  slightly  lengthened. 

SIXTEEN    WEEKS    OF    EARNEST  WORK, 

It  would  be  difficult  to  convey  to  the  mind  of  any 
one  not  familiar  with  it  a  correct  idea  of  the  amount 
and  variety  of  the  work  done  by  the  Executive  Com- 
mittee, the  district  officers,  and  the  district  committees 
during  the  four  months  following  the  first  of  October, 
1 89 1,  in  perfecting  the  plans  for  the  great  religious 
campaign  which  was  to  open  January  21,  1892.  This 
is  not  the  place  to  enter  into  details,  some  of  which 
will  be  given  in  the  chapter  which  follows  this,  on  the 
"Executive  Committee,"  and  "Other  Committees." 
They  were  busy,  earnest,  in  some  respects  anxious,  and 
yet  hopeful,  prayerful  and  happy  days — days  never  to 


1 8  Mills  Meetings 

be  forgotten  by  these  Christian  brethren,  who,  although 
belonging  to  different  denominations,  were  one  in  pur- 
pose and  desire,  and  whose  hearts  were  more  closely 
knit  together  than  ever  before,  as  they  prayed  and 
planned  and  worked  for  one  common  blessing  upon  all. 
As  the  time  passed  on,  and  these  ministers  of  Jesus 
learned  to  know  each  other  better  and  better,  their  one- 
ness in  Christ  became  more  and  more  apparent,  and 
the  remark  was  heard  with  increasing  frequency,  "If 
this  movement  should  stop  now,  before  a  single  meet- 
ing was  held,  the  good  which  it  has  accomplished 
already,  in  bringing  the  ministers  and  churches  together 
in  the  wonderful  spirit  of  unity  and  cooperation, 
would  be  an  inestimable  blessing." 

Time  after  time  these  busy  pastors  of  the  Executive 
Committee  came  together,  and  spent  long  hours  in 
careful  consultation,  reducing  to  as  perfect  a  system  as 
possible  the  great  work  to  be  done.  To  the  list  of 
cooperating  churches  others  were  added  from  week  to 
week,  until  the  number  had  grown  to  three  score  and 
ten. 

As  early  as  October  5th  the  organization  of  the  dis- 
tricts was  begun,  and  perfected  as  rapidly  as  possible. 
Each  of  the  five  districts  was  thoroughly  organized 
within  itself,  having  a  chairman,  a  secretary,  and  six 
full  committees,  viz:  (i)  Finance,  (2)  Advertising 
(3)  Canvassing,  (4)  Music,  (5)  Ushers,  (6)  Devotional, 
each  having  its  chairman  ;  and  in  addition  to  these 
were  six  central  committees  for  the  final  consolidated 
meetings  in  Music  Hall ;  all  of  these  districts  and  com- 
mittees operating  independently,  except  as  subject  to 
the  Executive  Committee.  Then  these  equally  busy 
pastors  of  the  districts  also  came  together  as  often  as 


Memorial  Volume.  19 

necessary,  in  their  district  meetings,  to  plan  and  work 
and  pray. 

Thus  besides  the  Executive  Committee  there  were 
no  less  than  thirty-six  other  committees  at  work  in  this 
grand  organization.  (Seethe  "Manual"  in  the  Ap- 
pendix.) 

On  November  27,  Mr.  Mills  and  Mr.  Greenwood 
again  visited  the  city,  and  held  a  very  interesting  confer- 
ence with  a  large  number  of  the  pastors,  in  the  parlors 
of  the  Grand  Hotel. 

ADDRESSES    TO    THE    CHURCHES,     MASS    MEETING,    ETC. 

About  the  first  of  December  arrangements  were 
made  for  a  mass  meeting  of  Christian  workers  from  all 
the  churches  of  the  city,  for  the  purpose  of  arousing  a 
general  interest  in  the  coming  meetings,  to  be  held  in 
the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  Hall,  on  the  evening  of  December  13, 
1891,  and  a  committee  appointed  to  invite  ministers 
and  laymen  from  Cleveland  and  Chicago  to  be  present, 
and  address  the  meeting  in  regard  to  the  work  of  Mr. 
Mills  in  those  cities. 

The  date  of  this  mass  meeting  was  afterwards 
changed  to  Thursday  evening,  January  7,  1892,  and 
Bishop  Walden  was  invited  to  be  one  of  the  speakers. 
At  the  same  time  the  chairman  was  requested  to  pre- 
pare a  circular  letter  addressed  to  the  churches,  setting 
forth  the  plans,  etc.,  of  the  approaching  meetings. 
This  letter,  of  which  twenty  thousand  copies  were 
printed  and  distributed  in  the  churches  of  the  city,  was 
as  follows : 

TO   THE   CHRISTIAN   CHURCHES    OF   CINCINNATI. 

Dear  Friends: — Believing  that  you  are  deeply  inter- 
ested in  the  moral  and  religious  welfare   of  our  city,  and  in 


20  Mills  Meetings 

all  wisely  conducted  movements  which  have  for  their  aim 
the  salvation  of  souls,  the  building  of  our  churches  in  piety, 
influence,  effectiveness  and  Christly  living,  we  take  this  op- 
portunity and  method  to  inform  you  concerning  the  great 
union  religious  work  soon  to  begin  in  our  midst,  and  the 
extensive  preparations  which  have  been,  and  are  still  being, 
made  for  it.  Early  last  Spring  a  number  of  the  pastors  of 
Cincinnati,  feeling  deeply  the  necessity  of  an  aggressive, 
united,  vigorous  movement  on  the  part  of  all  our  churches, 
if  any  strong  and  lasting  spiritual  impression  was  to  be 
made  on  our  city,  brought  the  matter  before  the  Evangelical 
Alliance,  which  includes  the  pastors  of  all  our  evangelical 
churches.  After  much  deliberation  and  prayer,  a  committee 
was  appointed  to  confer  with  the  churches  of  all  denomina- 
tions as  to  their  willingness  to  enter  into  this  work,  also  to 
correspond  with  and  secure  some  leading  evangelist,  who  en- 
joyed the  confidence  of  all,  and  under  whose  leadership  we 
could  all  harmoniously  and  happily  work.  The  outcome  of 
the  conference  and  correspondence  was  the  extension  of  an 
invitation  by  about  sixty  churches  to  Rev.  B.  Fay  Mills, 
one  of  the  most  noted,  gifted,  and  successful  evangelists  of 
our  day,  to  come  and  labor  for  us  for  as  long  a  period  of  time 
as  he  could  possibly  give.  Aftermuch  urgent  solicitation,  Mr. 
Mills  accepted  our  invitation,  and  in  the  early  Summer  made 
us  a  visit,  held  a  conference  with  about  two  hundred  repre- 
sentatives, explained  the  conditions  on  which  he  would  un- 
dertake the  work,  which  were  cordially  accepted,  and  fixed 
the  time  when  the  great  movement  should  begin.  Under  his 
directions  we  have  divided  Cincinnati  and  Covington  into 
five  districts :  Walnut  Hills  forming  district  No.  i  ;  Mount 
Axiburn,  Avondale  and  Clifton,  district  No.  2 ;  all  the 
churches  west  of  Elm  street,  district  No.  3 ;  all  the  churches 
east  of  Elm  street,  district  No.  4;  while  the  churches  of 
Covington  form  a  separate  district.  No.  5.  In  the  first  of 
these  districts,  Walnut  Hills,  the  work  will  begin  January 
21,  and  continue  until  the  end  of  the  month,  under  the  super- 
vision of  Mr.  Mills  alone.    February  ist,  the  work  will  begin 


Memorial  Volume,  21 

in  districts  Nos.  2  and  5,  Mount  Auburn  and  Covington,  and 
continue  until  February  loth.  In  districts  3  and  4,  the  work 
will  open  February  11,  and  continue  through  February  21st; 
and  then  the  districts  as  far  as  possible  will  mass  in  Music 
Hall,  where  meetings  will  be  held  twice  a  day  from  February 
22nd  until  March  7th. 

While  the  work  is  in  progress  in  districts  Nos.  2  and  5, 
also  in  districts  3  and  4,  Mr.  Mills  will  have  associated  with 
him  Dr.  Chapman,  of  Philadelphia,  whose  ministry  has  been 
wonderfully  successful  in  winning  souls,  and  who  Mr. 
Mills  thinks  possessed  of  rare  evangelistic  qualities,  and  pre- 
eminently fitted  for  just  such  a  work  as  ours.  While 
throughout  the  entire  work  the  great  singer,  Mr.  Greenwood, 
whose  whole  time  is  given  to  the  Mills  work,  will  have 
charge  of  the  music.  All  these  districts  are  fully  organized 
under  competent  and  devoted  Christian  pastors  and  workers, 
and  everything  that  system  and  cooperation  can  do  is  being 
done  to  have  the  gospel  reach  and  touch  all  our  homes. 
Many  things  combine  to  fill  us  with  faith  and  hope  and 
courage,  as  our  preparations  go  forward.  Our  churches  are 
blessed  with  the  spirit  of  Christian  unity.  For  the  principle 
of  competition,  the  principle  of  cooperation  has  been  substi- 
tuted. While  the  work  of  local  and  individual  churches  has 
not  been  ignored,  but  protected,  almost  all  are  entering 
heartily  and  with  determination  into  the  general  movement, 
under  the  motto,  0/<r  City  for  Christ.  We  are  highly  fa- 
vored, too,  in  securing  Mr.  Mills  and  Dr.  Chapman.  Both  are 
men  of  God.  Both  seem  to  have  a  passion  for  souls,  and  are 
persuasive  and  powerful  preachers  of  the  Gospel. 

During  the  past  year.  Dr.  Chapman  has  received  into 
his  own  church  more  than  six  hundred  on  profession  of  their 
faith,  and  so  effective  is  his  power  in  evangelistic  directions, 
that  the  city  of  Philadelphia  will  not  release  him  for  the 
general  work,  believing  that  he  can  not  without  serious  loss 
be  spared  from  that  great  center  of  population.  Mr.  Mills  is 
a  man  whom  God  is  using  in  a  most  wondrous  manner.  His 
preaching   is   of    a  high  order;    direct,  pungent,   practical, 


22  Mills  Meetings 

reaching  the  conscience,  convincing  the  judgment,  and 
reaching  the  heart.  He  possesses,  in  a  large  measure,  tact, 
adaptability,  wisdom  in  planning,  which  make  his  methods 
such  as  all  can  not  but  approve,  however  radical  or  con- 
servative, and  work  under  with  ease  and  satisfaction.  But 
beyond  his  natural  or  acquired  endowments,  his  power  is  the 
power  of  God.  This  is  the  ^^nanimous  testimony  of  all  who 
have  labored  with  him  in  other  places,  while  the  results  of 
his  work  make  this  conclusion  clear  bcA-ond  question. 

In  the  city  of  Cleveland,  where  he  labored  last  Spring 
for  a  period  of  six  weeks,  between  five  and  seven  thousand 
were  converted,  and  the  churches  are  still  blessed  with  large 
ingatherings.  In  Chicago,  where  he  labored  for  three  weeks 
during  the  month  of  November,  and  only  in  one  portion  of 
the  city,  nearly  three  thousand  have  started  in  the  Christian 
life.  And  in  all  the  places  where  he  has  conducted  revival 
work,  conversions  in  large  numbers  have  been  the  result. 
"What  God  has  done  elsewhere  we  are  confident  He  stands 
ready  to  do  here,  just  so  soon  as  His  people  give  themselves 
to  thoughtfulness  and  meditation,  to  intense  and  believing 
prayer,  to  a  more  earnest  use  of  the  means  of  grace,  and  a 
more  vigorous  endeavor  to  realize  for  themselves  a  better 
life,  and  a  more  constant  and  faithful  consecration  to  the 
grand  work  of  saving  men. 

Will  3'ou  not,  then,  take  this  work  upon  your  hearts,  and 
pray  that  God  will  come  in  the  fullness  of  His  power,  rebuk- 
ing the  world's  selfishness,  quickening  the  life  of  the 
churches,  and  bringing  the  unsaved  to  fall,  in  love  and 
humility  and  adoration,  at  his  feet  ?  Will  j'ou  not  also  give 
to  this  great  movement  your  personal  cooperation,  using  all 
your  influence  to  assist  your  pastor,  to  make  3-our  particular 
church  realize  its  responsibility  and  privilege  in  this  work, 
and  the  necessity  of  piitting  itself  in  the  very  best  possible 
condition  for  caring  for  souls  when  once  the\-  are  aroused, 
and  need  the  help  and  nurture  of  the  people  of  God? 

Praying  that  God  may  give  both  3-011  and  us  a  "  sea.son 
of  refreshing,"  which  will  thrill  our  hearts  with  enlarging 


Memorial  Volume.  23 

joy,  and  fill  us  with  grateful  wonder  at  the  "way  of  the 
Spirit,'  as  He  brings  multitudes  back  to  the  Father's  heart 
and  home,  and  to  a  happy,  joyous  Christian  life,  we  remain. 

Your  fellow-helpers  in  the  Master's  service, 
J.  W.  Simpson,  D.  D.,  Chairman.     Rev.  J.  M.  Anderson, 
E.  S.  I/EWis,  D.  D.,  Secretary.         E.  K.  BELL,  D.  D., 
Rev.  Hugh  Gilchrist,  J.  J.  Francis,  D.  D., 

W.  A.  Robinson,  D.  D.,  Rev.  Henry  M.  Curtis, 

G.  K.  Morris,  D.  D.,  Harley  J. Steward,  D.D. 

J.  Z.  Tyler,  D.  D.,  John  Pearson,  D.  D., 

Rev.  W.  D.  Holt,  Geo.  T.  Howser, 

A.  Ritchie,  D.  D.,        Executive  Committee  Mills  Meetings. 

The  last  Sabbath  of  the  year  was  selected  as  the 
day  for  presenting  the  work  to  all  the  churches,  and 
the  following  letter,  containing  this  request,  and  also 
the  announcement  of  the  mass  meeting  in  the  Y.  M. 
C.  A.  Hall,  was  sent  to  the  pastors : 

To  THE  Pastors  of  Cincinnati  : 

Dear  Brother: — At  a  largely  attended  meeting  of  the 
Executive  Committee  of  the  churches  enlisted  in  the  work 
of  preparing  for  the  Mill's  meetings,  a  resolution  was  offered 
and  unanimously  carried,  requesting  all  the  pastors  on  the 
last  Sabbath  morning  of  the  year  to  preach  on  some  phase  of 
revival  work,  emphasizing  as  far  as  proper  our  city's  need  of 
a  great  and  mighty  work  of  God's  Spirit,  and  our  contem- 
plated movement  under  the  leadership  of  Rev.  B.  Fay  Mills. 
Will  you  please  comply  with  the  request,  if  it  does  not  con- 
flict with  your  judgment  and  arrangements  already  made  ? 
Will  you  also  kindly  assist  in  the  distribution  through  your 
church  of  a  printed  letter,  touching  this  union  work,  which 
will  be  sent  to  you,  and  make  such  comments  upon  it,  or  the 
work,  as  you  may  deem  wise  and  timely  ?  Will  you  still  fur- 
ther please  announce  from  your  pulpit,  Sabbath  morning,  the 
27th,  that  Tuesday  evening,  December  29th,  *  at  7:45  o'clock, 

*Thi»  date  was  afterwards  chang:ed  to  Thursday  evening-,  January  7, 
1892. 


24  Mills  Meetings 

a  mass  meeting  of  pastors  and  Christian  workers  will  be  held 
i«n  the  hall  of  the  new  Y.  M.  C.  A.  building,  corner  Seventh  and 
Walnut  streets,  to  be  addressed  by  pastors  and  laymen  from 
Cleveland  and  Chicago  ?  These  brethren  will  speak  of  the 
work  accomplished  under  the  leadership  of  Mr.  Mills  in  their 
cities,  and  answer  questions  as  to  methods  of  work,  substan- 
tial results,  and  permanent  good  secured.  Come  to  this 
meeting  if  you  possibly  can,  and  bring  with  you  a  goodly 
number  of  your  Christian  workers.  By  so  doing  you  will 
greatly  aid  the  movement  and  encourage  your  brethren  of 
the  Committee.  Yours  in  the  Master's  service, 

(Signed  the  same  as  preceding  letter). 

This  mass  meeting  proved  to  be  a  very  profitable 
service.  It  was  attended  by  many  ministers,  and 
probably  five  hundred  Christian  workers.  Dr.  Simpson 
presided,  and  made  an  earnest  introductory  talk. 
Prayer  was  offered  by  Dr.  Robinson,  of  Covington.  A 
number  of  encouraging  letters  from  prominent  pastors 
and  editors  in  Cleveland  and  Chicago  were  read  by  Dr. 
Francis  ;  after  which  inspiring  addresses  were  delivered 
by  Rev.  R  E.  Kipp,  D.  D.,  and  Mr.  George  A. 
Fisher,  of  Cleveland,  giving  a  full  and  enthusiastic  ac- 
count of  the  great  work  iii  that  city.  The  closing  ad- 
dress was  by  Bishop  Walden,  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  on 
the  prospects  of  the  work  here. 

On  Sabbath  afternoon,  January  17,  1892,  union 
prayer  meetings  were  held  in  all  the  districts. 

Tuesday  evening,  January  i8th,  a  meeting  of 
the  pastors  and  invited  laymen  of  the  cooperating 
churches  was  held  in  the  Second  Presbyterian 
Church. 

On  Wednesday,  January  20th,  an  all-day  prayer  meet- 
ing was  held  in  each  of  the  five  districts,  from  9  to  11:30 
A.  M.  and  from  1:30  to  4  p.  m.,  led  by  the  ministers  of  the 


Memorial  Volume.  25 

respective  districts,  the  leaders  and  subjects  changing 
every  half-hour. 

A    FINAL   LEITER   TO   THE   PASTORS. 

By  direction  of  the  committee  the  chairman  issued 
the  following  closing  letter  to  the  pastors : 

My  Dear  Brother: — As  we  are  nearing  the  formal 
opening  of  our  great  evangelistic  work  under  the  direction 
of  Rev.  B.  Fay  Mills,  and  for  the  effectiveness  and  success  of 
which  you  and  your  people  have  promised  a  hearty  coopera- 
tion, we  take  this  opportunity  of  expressing  our  gratitude 
that  you  have  joined  in  this,  which  we  believe  to  be  a  di- 
vinely inspired  and  guided  movement,  and  most  sincerely 
hope  and  pray  that  to  you  may  come  the  blessing  of  God  in 
fullest  measure. 

The  present  stage  of  the  work  is  full  of  encouragement, 
and  strengthens  our  belief  that  we  are  about  to  reap  one  of 
the  greatest  spiritual  harvests  which  have  ever  been  gar- 
nered in  our  city.  We  are  confident  that  our  most  sanguine 
anticipations  will  be  fully  realized  if  we  cast  ourselves  in 
entire  reliance  upon  God,  believe  in  the  sufficiency  of  his 
power  to  do  for  us  exceedingly  abundant  above  what  we  are 
able  to  ask  or  think,  and  lay  ourselves  upon  the  altar  ready 
for  either  sacrifice  or  service.  May  we  not  ask  you  to  give 
this  work  a  central  place  in  your  earnest  and  importunate 
prayers?  Plead  with  3'our  people  to  give  the  Lord  the  right 
of  way,  and  to  subordinate,  as  far  as  possible,  social  engage- 
ments, domestic  and  secular  matters,  and  to  prove  the  sin- 
cerity of  their  desire  for  his  coming  by  their  whole-hearted 
and  consecrated  endeavors  for  the  promotion  01  his  glory  .n 
the  salvation  of  souls.  Will  you  also  kindly  and  repeatedly 
remind  your  people  that  the  work  in  the  different  districts 
is  but  the  first  part  of  this  movement,  and  preparatory  for 
the  massing  of  all  our  churches  in  one  grand,  united  effort  In 
Music  Hall,  from  February  22  until  March  7.  The  latter 
part  of  the  work  we  need  to  keep  constantly  in  view  for  it 
lift  up  our  most  fervent  prayers,  and  to  it  make  all  our  plans 


26  Mills  Meetings 

and  endeavor.s  lead.     It  is  our  hope  and  belief  tliat  it  will 
prove  the  fitting  crown  and  glory  of  the  whole  movement. 

Please,  also,  inform  your  people  that  Mr.  Mills  desires, 
and  urgently  requests,  that  they  do  not  attend  the  meetings 
in  other  districts  than  their  own  until  we  consolidate  our 
united  forces  in  Music  Hall.  The  reason  for  this,  3'ou  will 
readily  see,  is  the  limited  size  of  our  churches,  and  to  keep 
the  space  reserved  so  that  the  people  within  the  district 
where  the  work  is  going  on  may  personally  attend  the 
services,  and  reap  from  them  the  greatest  measure  of  bless- 
ing. 

Will  you  please  make  such  use  of  these  suggestions  and 
requests  as  your  judgment  will  approve  .-^ 

The;  Executive;  Committee, 

J.  W.  Simpson,  Chainnan. 

On  Thursday,  January  21,  1892,  at  2  p.  m.,  Mr.  Mills 
and  Mr.  Greenwood  arrived  in  the  city,  and  at  3  p.  m. 
they  held  a  conference,  first  with  the  Executive  Com- 
mittee, and  then  with  the  pastors  and  ministers  of  the 
city,  in  the  Central  Congregational  Church  on  Vine 
street. 

The  long  period  of  preparation  and  anticipation  was 
now  ended,  and  on  Thursday  evening,  January  21,  1892, 
at  7:30,  in  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  on  Walnut 
Hills,  Mr.  Greenwood  announced  to  the  assembled 
multitudes,  the  first  prophetic  hymn,  "There  Shall  be 
Showers  of  Blessings  ;"  a  few  minutes  later  Dr.  McKib- 
bin  and  Rev.  W.  E.  Loucks  led  in  the  first  earnest 
prayers  ;  Dr.  Simpson  uttered  the  first  words  of  intro- 
duction, and  at  eight  o'clock  Mr.  Mills  began  his  first 
sermon  on  the  text,  "  They  first  gave  their  own  selves 
unto  the  Lord,"  and  the  great  revival  services  in  Cin- 
cinnati were  fully  inaugurated. 


Memorial  Volume.  27 

the  story  of  the  revival. 

In  the  following  pages  we  have  endeavored,  at  the 
joint  request  of  the  Executive  Committee  and  the 
Standard  Publishing  Company,  to  preserve  in  per- 
manent form  such  a  record  of  this  wonderful  revival 
movement  as  will  be  of  interest  to  the  noble  band  of 
ministers  of  Christ  who,  in  the  spirit  of  earnest  prayer 
and  consecration,  first  inaugurated  it  nearly  one  year 
and  a  half  ago  ;  to  all  their  associates  in  the  ministry 
and  the  laity,  who  have  labored  so  faithfully  for  its 
success ;  to  the  three  score  and  twelve  churches  which 
have  been  identified  with  it,  and  have  contributed  to  its 
support;  to  the  unnumbered  multitudes  who  have  at- 
tended the  meetings ;  and  especially  to  the  thousands 
of  men  and  women  who  at  these  services  have  been  led 
to  give  their  hearts  to  the  Saviour,  and  to  enter  upon 
a  Christian  life.  We  can  not  hope  to  have  met  every 
wish,  or  to  have  avoided  all  mistakes.  The  preparation 
of  this  Memorial  Volume  was  not  thought  of  until  the 
series  of  meetings  had  been  nearly  half  finished.  It 
has  been  accomplished  under  the  greatest  pressure. 

The  considerate  reader  v/ill  appreciate  the  peculiar 
difficulties  of  the  work  laid  upon  the  editor  and  his 
assistant,  in  compiling  and  editing  in  about  three 
weeks'  time  the  entire  contents  of  this  volume — espe- 
cially that  department  beginning  with  page  lOi,  assigned 
to  the  assistant  editor.  Dr.  Charles  B.  Morrell,  con- 
taining the  account  of  the  great  union  meetings  in 
the  districts  and  in  Music  Hall,  continuing  nearly 
seven  weeks — when  it  is  remembered  that  a  full  report 
of  these  meetings  would  embrace  the  history  of  not  less 
than    102  preaching    services    (including   102    full   ser- 


28  Mills  Meetings 

mons),  nearly  as  many  after-meetings,  thirty  noon-day 
prayer-meetings,  twelve  or  more  ladies'  prayer-meet- 
ings, and  four  Sabbath-school  conferences,  besides  at 
least  twenty  other  union  preaching  services  held  by 
ministers  of  the  city  in  the  midst  of  groups  of  churches, 
arranged  by  Mr.  Mills;  or  not  less  than  176  distinct 
services  (not  counting  the  after-meetings  at  all),  each 
of  which  would  fill  fifteen  pages  of  this  book,  making, 
in  all,  2,640  pages;  and  that  this  vast  amount  of  2,6^0 
pages  of  material,  all  of  it  interesting,  had  to  be  con- 
densed into  two  hundred  pages. 

The  effort  has  been  honestly  and  earnestly  made, 
however,  to  omit  no  essential  feature  of  the  work,  but 
to  touch  more  or  less  fully  upon  all  its  characteristics, 
and  its  different  points  of  interest,  such  as  the  sermons 
of  both  Mr.  Mills  and  Dr.  Chapman  (both  of  whom 
were  consulted  personally  in  regard  to  this),  the  singing 
of  Mr.  Greenwood,  Mr.  Stebbins  and  the  choirs,  the 
morning,  the  afternoon,  and  the  evening  services,  the 
special  meetings  for  "Young  People,"  for  "Men 
Only,"  for  "Mothers,"  etc.,  the  ministers'  conference, 
the  Sabbath-school  confet-ences,  the  mid-week  Sab- 
baths, the  after-meetings,  the  inquiry  meetings,  the 
ladies'  prayer-meeting,  the  great  noon-day  prayer- 
meetings,  etc.,  besides  giving  an  insight  into  the  his- 
tory and  work  of  the  Executive  Committee,  the 
Finance,  Advertising,  Canvassing,  Music,  Ushers,  and 
Devotional  Committees,  the  places  of  meetings,  the 
size  and  character  of  the  audiences,  the  methods 
adopted,  the  work  of  the  reporters  and  newspapers, 
and  all  that  pertained  to  the  successful  carrying  forward 
of  the  great  movement  from  the  beginning  to  the  end. 
It  would   be  especially  pleasant,  if  the  limits  of  space 


Memorial  Volume,  29 

permitted,  to  dwell  upon  the  efficiency  and  faithfulness 
of  the  grand  choir  of  nearly  one  thousand  voices, 
enrolled  under  the  direction  of  Mr.  C.  A.  Sanders, 
vice-chairman,  and  acting  chairman  of  the  Committee 
on  Music,  (whose  names,  carefully  arranged  by  Mr.  A. 
W.  Macbriar,  of  Avondale,  the  choir  secretary,  will 
be  found  elsewhere),  and  of  the  organist,  Miss  Rebecca 
R  Snyder,  of  Walnut  Hills,  and  Mr.  Charles  A. 
Austin,  of  Avondale,  assistant  organist,  who  pre- 
sided at  the  great  organ  in  Music  Hall ;  and  the 
perfectly  drilled  army  of  nearly  two  hundred  ushers 
(whose  names  will  also  be  found  in  the  "  Manual  "  ), 
under  the  masterly  leadership  of  the  grand  chief 
usher,  Mr.  C.  A.  Sanders,  of  Walnut  Hills,  and 
his  chief  ushers,  Mr.  J.  L.  Korn,  Mr.  T.  M.  Wor- 
cester, Mr.  A.  M.  Worcester,  and  Mr.  E.  E  Ship- 
ley. To  these  two  great  organizations  of  Christian 
men  and  women  (the  choir  and  ushers)  too  much 
praise  can  not  be  given.  Another,  whose  name  will 
always  be  associated  with  one  of  the  most  important 
and  pecuhar  features  of  the  movement,  and  whose  rare 
qualifications  for  systematic  work  made  it  possible  to 
ascertain  at  a  glance,  at  any  moment,  the  direct  results, 
and  to  trace  the  effects  of  the  services  to  every  church 
in  the  city,  was  Mr.  William  Mendenhall,  who  had 
entire  charge,  for  Mr.  Mills,  of  the  receiving  and 
recording  of  the  "Inquirers'  Cards,"  used  in  the  after- 
meetings.  Mr.  Mendenhall's  official  report  will  be 
found  in  full  elsewhere  in  this  book. 

WHO  CAN    TELL    IT  ? 

The  history  of  the  great  revival  can  never  be  fully 
written.      It  is  not  ended  yet.      It  will  never  end.      Its 


30  Mills  Meetings 

influence  will  be  felt  to  the  remotest  corners  of  the  land, 
and  will  last  through  all  eternity.  As  Mr.  Joseph  D. 
Lowden,  of  Elizabeth,  N.  J.,  writes  in  the  introduction 
to  "The  Story  of  the  Revival"  in  that  city,  so  may 
we  write  of  it  in  this  city : 

"  Who  can  tell  it?  Who  can  measure  the  love  of 
God,  or  comprehend  in  all  its  fullness  the  power  of  the 
Almighty  ? 

"The  scenes  and  incidents  which  in  the  past  Tew 
weeks  stirred  the  city,  like  unto  the  commotion  in  Jer- 
icho, when  blind  Bartimeus  cried  out  to  know  its  mean- 
ing, and  was  made  to  see  by  Jesus  of  Nazareth,  wno 
was  'passing  by,'  had  clouds  of  witnesses,  and  it  is  a 
marvelous  story  they  can  tell  —  but  yet  how  imperfect- 
ly !  Even  those  whose  spiritual  blindness  was  taken 
away,  and  who  have  visions  brighter  and   experiences 

new,  tell  only  a  part  of  the  wondrous  story 

How  can  the  pen  .  .  .  tell  the  emotions  of  the 
penitent,  or  the  joys  of  the  saved  ^ 

"The  story  will  never  be  completed,  for  the  revival 
will  bear  fruit  in  eternity.  For  who  can  prophesy  the 
results?  Who  can  give  the  weight  of  influence  yet  to 
be  borne  by  this  community  and  vicinity  ?  Who  can 
tell  what  will  be  the  result,  as  the  transformed  char- 
acters and  the  strengthened  Christians  come  in  touch 
with  those  who  had  no  interest  in  these  scenes  ?" 

RESULTS. 

There  is  no  doubt  that  Cincinnati  has  been  pro- 
foundly impressed.  The  "great  and  wicked  city"  has 
been  stirred  from  its  center  to  its  most  distant  suburb. 
Thousands  of  Christians  have  been  quickened  into  new 
life  ;  thousands  of  others  have  been  converted  to  Christ, 


Memorial  Volume.  31 

The  largest  churches  in  the  city  have  been  crowded 
with  the  multitudes.  Music  Hall  has  been  packed  in 
every  corner,  and  thousands  turned  away.  No  one 
who  witnessed  it  will  ever  forget  the  sight,  when  within 
the  doors  of  this  magnificent  edifice  nearly  eight  thou- 
sand people  pressed  into  the  seats  and  aisles  and  plat- 
form and  doorways  and  corridors,  and  when,  before 
the  evangelist  had  announced  his  text,  at  least  six 
thousand  others  had  failed  to  obtain  entrance,  and  had 
reluctantly  gone  home.  No  one  who  saw  it  will  ever 
forget  the  ctrange  scenes  of  the  remarkable  "Mid- 
week Sabbath,"  when  Cincinnati,  a  city  noted  for  her 
Sabbath  desecration,  for  her  Sunday  saloons,  and  Sun- 
day theaters,  and  open  Sunday  stores,  closed  her  places 
of  business  by  thousands,  from  her  great  wholesale  and 
retail  houses  and  factories,  down  to  the  smallest  shops 
and  offices,  in  the  midst  of  the  busy  week,  at  the  re- 
quest of  the  churches,  and  out  of  respect  for  the  great 
religious  movement  in  the  city,  and  sent  her  employes 
in  multitudes  to  hear  the  gospel  preached. 

But  more  wonderful  than  the  power  of  the  gifted 
preacher,  more  wonderful  than  the  persuasive  voice  of 
the  sweet  singer,  more  wonderful  than  the  mighty 
throng  that  pressed  to  hear  the  messages  of  .salvation, 
more  wonderful  that  the  sights  and  scenes  of  the 
memorable  "Mid-week  Sabbath,"  was  the  manifest 
presence  of  God,  the  wondrous  power  of  the  Holy 
Ghost,  as  he  moved  upon  the  hearts  and  consciences  of 
men,  and  brought  them  by  hundreds  in  penitence  and 
faith  to  the  feet  of  Christ,  to  begin  a  new  and  better 
life. 

The  real  unity  of  the  Church   of  Christ   has   been 
gloriously  demonstrated  before  the  world ;  there  has 


32  Mills  Meetings 

been  no  abolition  of  creeds,  but  on  the  contrary  the 
great  fundamental  doctrines  of  sin  and  of  grace  which 
all  branches  of  the  church  hold  in  common,  the  doc- 
trines of  human  depravity,  of  the  guilt  and  power  of 
sin,  of  the  atonement  of  Christ,  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  of 
repentance  and  fai.:h  and  new  obedience,  of  futurep  un- 
ishment  and  future  glory,  and  the  ethical  teachings  of 
the  gospel,  have  been  grandly  emphasized ;  the  Bible 
has  been  exalted  as  the  divinely  inspired,  infallible 
revelation  from  God  to  men  ;  Christ  has  been  lifted  up, 
and  sinners  have  been  pointed  to  him  as  the  only 
Saviour;  the  churches  have  been  brought  into  line  for 
united  effort  for  the  salvation  of  men,  and  for  the  over- 
throw of  Satan's  kingdom;  the  religion  of  Jesus  Christ 
has  become  a  Ihnng  reality,  as  never  before,  to  tens  of 
thousands  of  people  in  the  city,  and  the  Lord  is  adding 
daily  to  his  church  "those  that  are  being  saved." 

"  When  the  IvOrd  turned  again  the  captivity  of  Zion,  we 
were  Hke  them  that  dream.  Then  was  our  mouth  filled  with 
laughter,  and  our  tongue  with  singing  ;  then  said  they  among 
the  heathen,  The  Lord  hath  done  great  things  for  them. 

"The  Lord  hath  done  great  things  for  us ;  where;- 
OF  we  are  glad." — Psalm  cxxvi.  1-3. 


THE  EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE. 


MEMBERSHIP  OF  THE  EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE. 

President :   Rev.  J.  W.  Simpson,  D.  D. 
Vice-chairman:  Rev.  J.  Z.  Tvler,  D.  D. 
Secretarv:  Rev.  E.  S.  Lewis,  D.  D. 


Rev.  J.  M.  Anderson.  Rev.  G.  K.  Morris,  D.  D. 

Rev.  E.  K.  Bell,  D.  D.  Rev.  J.  Pearson,  D.  D. 

Rev.  W.  A.  Cooper.  Rev.  A.  Ritchie,  D.D. 

Rev.  H.  M.  Curtis.  Rev.  W.  A.  Robinson,  D.  D. 

Rev.  J.  J.  Francis,  D.  D.  Rev.  H.  J.  Steward,  D.  D. 

Rev.  H.  W.  Gilchrist.  Rev.  W.  H.  Warren. 

Rev.  W.  D.  Holt.  George  T.  Howser. 


ADVISORY  MEMBERS. 

Rev.  G.  W.  Lasher,  D.  D.  Rev.  F.  C.  Monfort,  D.  D. 

Rev.  D.  H.  Moore,  D.  D.  Bi.sliop  J.  M.  Walden,  LL.  D. 

Rev.  R.  S.  Rust.  LL.  D.  Rev.  E.  D.  Morris, D.D.  LL.  D. 
Russell  Errett. 


stenographer  and  type-writer. 
George  Elmer  Malsbary. 


Office  of  Committee  in    V.  M.   C.  A.  B?iilding. 


In  the  general  plan  proposed  by  Mr.  Mills  for  the 
conduct  of  union  services  in  which  any  number  of 
churches  are  to  cooperate,  the  "Executive  Commit- 
tee" naturally  occupies  the  place  of  first  importance, 
all  other  committees  being  appointed  by  it,  and  sub- 
ject to  its  control  and  supervision.     Ordinarily  its  mem- 


34  Mills   Meetings 

bers  are  selected  by  a  conference  made  up  of  the  rep- 
resentatives of  all  the  churches  agreeing  to  participate 
in  the  movement.  In  his  little  book  of  "Suggestions- 
to  Committees,"  Mr.  Mills  indicates  the  method*  of 
procedure. 

In  the  case  of  the  great  Cincinnati  movement, 
however,  the  entire  movement  having  developed  grad- 
ually in  connection  with  the  "Evangelical  Alliance" 
of  the  city,  the  organization  had  its  origin  in  a 
different  way,  and  the  "Executive  Committee" 
came  into  existence  as  the  cliild  of  the  Alliance.  The 
history  of  the  various  steps  leading  up  to  its  appoint- 
ment is  given  in  the  introductory  chapter  of  this 
book. 

Its  existence  as  a  committee  may  be  said  to  date 
from  February  i6,  1891,  although  it  did  not  begin  to 
act  as  an  independent  organization,  distinct  from  the 
Alliance,  until  several  months  later. 

At  the  meeting  of  "The  Alliance,"  in  Wiley  Hall, 
February  16,  1891,  Dr.  Keen  presented  a  report  of 
"  the  Committee  on  Future  Revival  Work,"  which  was 
adopted,  and  the  last  resolution  of  which  was  as  fol- 
lows :  ' '  That  as  early  as  practicable  an  evangelist  of 
accredited  power  and  usefulness  be  secured  to  spend 
several  months  in  our  city  and  vicinity,  taking  the  lead- 
ership of  the  work. "  The  minutes  further  state  that 
"on  motion,  the  carrying  out  of  these  resolutions  was 
referred  to  the  Executive  Committee  of  the  Alliance, 
to  which  were  added  Dr.  Keen,  Rev.  Johnston  Myers, 
and  Rev  W.  H.    Warren." 

The  names  of  the  committee  as  thus  originally  con- 
stituted are  given  on  page  9. 
*See  page  n. 


Memorial  Volume.  35 

This  Special  Committee  met  at  once  on  the  day  of 
its  appointment,  and  adopted  the  following  resolution  : 

Resolved,  That  the  chairman,  Dr.  Simpson,  be  appointed 
to  correspond  with  Rev.  B.  Fay  Mills,  and,  if  possible,  secure 
his  services  for  three  months,  commencing  October  i,  to  con. 
duct  union  revival  services  in  this  city,  under  the  auspices 
of  the  Evangelical  Alliance. 

It  will  be  seen  that  owing  to  removals,  resignations, 
and  changes,  the  personnel  of  this  committee  has 
changed  to  some  extent,  although  nine  of  the  original 
fifteen  members  are  still  members  of  the  "  Mills  Execu- 
tive Committee,"  and  all  others  (except  Dr.  Keen, 
removed  from  the  city)  have  been  most  actively  en- 
gaged in  the  work. 

That  this  committee  did  not  at  this  time  act  inde- 
pendently, we  learn  from  the  fact  that  several  weeks 
later  the  Alliance  directed  its  Executive  Committee 
"  to  ascertain  what  churches  are  willing  to  unite  in  the 
movement,  and  agree  to  the  requirements  in  the  case," 
and  the  printed  circular  letter  of  inquiry  *  sent  to  the 
churches,  under  date  of  March  20,  1891,  is  in  the  name 
of  "  The  Evangelical  Alliance  of  Cincinnati." 

During  the  Spring  and  Summer  of  1891,  a  large 
amount  of  work  was  done  in  the  way  of  perfecting 
plans.  The  chairman,  Dr.  Simpson,  visited  Mr.  Mills 
in  Cleveland,  in  April ;  in  May,  Mr.  Mills  visited  the 
city  in  person,  and  the  committee  came  to  act  more 
and  more  upon  its  own  responsibility.  The  first  time 
in  which  the  name  of  the  committee  is  used  directly  in 
connection  with  the  Mills  movement  is  under  date  of 
September  28,  189 1,  in  the  minutes  of  the  Evangelical 
Alliance,  where  the  record  reads : 

*  See  letter  on  page  15. 


36  Mills  Meetings 

The  following  action  was  taken:  (i)  A  number  of 
churches  were  added  to  the  roll  of  those  desiring  to  aid  in 
the  proposed  work  of  Brother  Mills.  (2)  Dr.  vSimpson  was 
appointed  chairman  of  the  General  Mills  Committee;  in 
place  of  Dr.  Keen,  who  has  removed  from  our  city.  Dr.  E. 
S.  Lewis  was  added  to  the  committee.  It  was  moved  that 
this  committee  appoint,  as  soon  as  possible,  a  Finance  Com- 
mittee to  secure  pledges  of  the  funds  needed  for  the  pro- 
posed work.  To  the  same  committee  was  referred  the 
selection  of  special  committees  for  the  different  districts  into 
which  the  city  has  been  divided,  viz:  (i)  Walnut  Hills;  (2) 
Mt.  Auburn  ;  (3)  Covington  ;  (4)  Cincinnati,  east  of  Elm 
street;  Cincinnati,  west  of  Elm  street. 

This  minute  is  very  significant  as  indicating  the 
definite  work  already  done,  and  also  as  showing  that 
the  committee  had  now  reached  a  point  which  brought 
it  fully  into  line  with  the  clearly  defined  plans  of  Mr. 
Mills  for  carrying  on  the  work.  The  preliminary  steps 
had  all  been  taken,  and  much  even  of  the  distinctive 
work  of  an  executive  committee  had  been  done,  and 
henceforth  the  committee  entered  upon  an  independent 
existence  under  the  name  of  "  The  Mills  Meetings  Ex- 
ecutive Committee,  "  assuming  full  control  of  the  entire 
movement  in  all  its  details,  having  its  own  officers,  hold- 
ing its  own  meetings,  keeping  its  own  minutes,  etc. 
The  city  had  already,  in  consultation  with  Mr.  Mills, 
been  permanently  districted,  and  the  time  for  the  care- 
ful and  systematic  planning  of  the  work  had  come. 

The  first  regular  "  minutes  "  of  the  committee,  as  a 
distinct  and  independent  organization,  are  dated  "  Mon- 
day, 10  A.M.,  October  5th.  1891."  The  records  of  this 
meeting  contain  so  many  points  of  historic  importance 
in  regard  to  the  work  of  the  committee  that  we  give 
them   almost  in  full. 


Memorial  Volume.  37 

Cincinnati,  Ohio,  October  5,  1891,  10  A.  m. 

The  Permanent  Committee  of  the  Kvangelical  Alliancej 
on  organization  for  the  Mills'  meetings,  met  in  the  office  of  Dr. 
Ritchie,  176  Elm  street,  at  the  call  of.  the  chairman.  Dr.  J. 
W.  Simpson,  with  Dr.  J.  J.  Francis  as  secretary.  Members 
present:  J.  W.  Simpson,  D.  D.,  A.  Ritchie,  D.  D.,  J.  J.  Francis, 
D.  D.,  Rev.  H.  M.  Curtis,  G.  K.  Morris,  D.  D.,  J.  Z.  Tyler, 
D.  D.,  Rev.  W.  D.  Holt,  Rev.  J.  M.  Anderson,  Rev.  H.  W. 
Gilchrist,  J.  I.  Blackburn,  D.  D.,  E.  K.  Bell,  D.  D. 

The  meeting  was  opened  with  prayer  by  Dr.  G.  K.  Mor- 
ris. Dr.  T3'ler  was  elected  vice-chairman;  Dr.  E.  S.  Lewis 
was  elected  permanent  secretary. 

Dr.  Ritchie,  secretary  of  the  Alliance,  reported]that  at  its 
meeting  last  INIonday  the  Alliance  had  instructed  this  com- 
mittee to  appoint  a  Finance  Committee  to  secure  pledges  of 
the  funds  needed  for  the  proposed  work. 

Dr.  Simpson  read  .several  important  communications 
from  Rev.  B.  Fay  Mills,  in  reference  to  securing  the  assist- 
ance of  Rev.  J.  Wilbur  Chapman,  D.  D.,  pastor  of  Bethany 
Presbyterian  Church,  Philadelphia,  in  the  meetings  next  Win- 
ter, and  a  possible  change  of  date  of  the  beginning  of  the 
meeting.  It  was  unanimously  resolved  that  the  committee 
express  to  Mr.  Mills  their  hearty  approval  of  his  sugge.stions 
as  to  Dr.  Chapman. 

Dr.  Simpson  was  appointed  a  committee  to  confer  with 
the  Apollo  Club  as  to  dates  of  engagement  of  Music  Hall. 

The  following  were  appointed  chairmen  pro  tem  of  the 
district  committees,  and  were  requested  to  call  these  com- 
mittees together,  and  send  to  this  Executive  Committee  on 
next  INIonday  their  suggestions  as  to  the  Finance  Commit- 
tee, viz.: 

First  District. — J.  W.  Simpson,  D.  D.  Second  Di.strict. — 
Rev.  H.  M.  Curtis.  Third  District.— J.  I.  Blackburn,  D.  D. 
Fourth  District.— Rev.  W.  D.  Holt.  Fifth  District.— G.  K. 
Morris,  D.  D.,  and  Rev.  J.  M.  Ander.son. 

Dr.  Lewis,  secretary  of  the  committee,  was  appointed  to 
cooperate  with  the  representatives  of  the  press  in  furnishing 


3^  Mills  Meetings 

information,  etc.  Rev.  H.  W.  Gilchrist  was  appointed  to 
confer  with  the  newspapers  as  to  securing  reporters  for  these 
mieetings.  The  committee  then  adjourned  to  meet  next 
Monday  at  9:30  a.  m.,  in  this  office. 

SUBSEQUENT    WORK    OF    THE    COMMITTEE. 

From  this  time  onward  for  sixteen  weeks  (until  the 
union  services  began,  January  21),  the  Executive  Com- 
mittee met  regularly  every  week,  often  continuing  in 
session  from  two  to  three  hours  at  a  time,  and  occa- 
sionally holding  a  special  meeting.  The  minutes  con- 
tain the  full  records  of  eightee?t  meetings  of  the  com- 
mittee, prior  to  the  coming  of  Mr.  Mills. 

In  these  long  and  earnest  conferences  the  entire 
work  in  all  its  multitudinous  details  was  planned  and 
systematized.  Not  a  feature  of  the  complicated  organi- 
zation was  overlooked  or  slighted.  Each  district  was 
thoroughly  organized,  and  brought  into  touch  with  this 
Executive  Committee.  The  large  West  District,  for 
the  sake  of  more  thorough  work,  again  divided  itself 
into  five  sub-districts,  viz.  :  Price  Hill,  Cumminsville, 
Camp  Washington,  and  North  and  South  Sections. 
Each  of  the  six  central  committees,  and  of  the  thirty 
district  committees  was  set  to  work,  along  its  special 
line  of  duty.  The  Executive  Committee  was  in  con 
stant  communication  with  Mr.  Mills,  and  every  forward 
step  was  taken  under  his  direction  and  subject  to  his 
approval. 

It  is  impossible  to  particularize  to  any  great  extent 
in  writing  of  the  work  of  this  committee  during  these 
busy  months  of  preparation.  A  few  points  may  be 
mentioned. 

At  each  meeting  reports  were  received  from  the 
different  district  organizations,  and  from  committee*- 


Memorial  Volume.  39 

The  time  originally  arranged  for  the  meetings  to 
commence  was  December  31,  1891.  On  October  14, 
a  communication  was  received  from  Mr.  Mills,  request- 
the  postponement  of  the  meetings  until  January  21, 
1892,  so  as  to  bring  the  beginning  of  the  Music  Hall 
meetings  to  March  9.  This  was  agreed  to,  and  a  com- 
mittee, consisting  of  Rev.  H.  W.  Gilchrist,  Dr.  Simp- 
son, and  Rev.  W.  D.  Holt,  was  appointed  to  secure 
Music  Hall  for  the  desired  dates  (March  9  to  22). 

The  following  Monday,  October  19,  Mr.  Mills  noti- 
fied the  committee  that  Dr.  Chapman  would  assist  him 
for  three  weeks,  and  that  during  this  time  meetings 
would  be  held  simultaneously  in  two  districts,  conducted 
by  Mr.  Mills  and  Dr.  Chapman  alternately,  and  sug- 
gesting the  following  programme  of  dates,  which  was 
adopted  as  the  final  arrangement,  viz.  : 

1.  Walnut     Hills.— Mr.    Mills    (only),  January  21 

to  31. 

2.  Mt.  Auburn  and  Covington. — Mr.  Mills  and  Dr. 
Chapman,  February  i  to  10. 

3.  East  and  West  Districts. — Mr.  Mills  and  Dr. 
Chapman,  February  11  to  21. 

4.  Music  Hall. — Mr.  Mills  (only),  February  22  to 
March  7. 

President  Simpson  announced  that  Music  Hall  had 
been  secured  for  the  period  from  February  22  to  March 
7,  afternoons  and  evenings,  except  Saturdays. 

On  Monday,  October  26,  a  joint  meeting  of  the 
Executive  Committee,  the  Finance  Committee,  and 
the  presidents  and  secretaries  of  the  districts,  was  held 
in  Parlor  A  of  the  Burnet  House. 

Soon  after  the  permanent  organization  of  the  com- 
mittee,   through    the    courtesy    of  the   officers  of  the 


40      ,  Mills  Meetings 

Young  Men's  Christian  Association  and  its  general 
secretary,  Mr.  Geo.  T.  Howser,  a  large  room  in  the 
new  Y.  M.  C.  A.  building  was  secured  as  a  permanent 
office  and  headquarters  of  the  committee,  where  its 
meetings  were  afterwards  held. 

EXTRACTS    FROM    THE    MINUTES. 

Occasional  brief  extracts  from  the  records  of  the 
committee  will  give  some  idea  of  the  variety  of  points 
touched  upon  in  its  meetings. 

November  2,  1891. — As  indicative  of  the  rapidly 
growing  interest,  the  minutes  contain  the  following 
record:  "Dr.  Francis  reported,  for  the  district  secre- 
tary. Rev.  D.  McKinney,  from  the  West  District, 
that  there  were  thirty-six  churches  in  that  district 
notified,  twenty-six  of  which  have  thus  far  decided  to 
join  the  movement,  and  nineteen  of  which  were  repre- 
sented in  person,  by  their  pastors,  at  the  district  meet- 
ing at  St.  Paul  M.  E.  Church  this  morning. " 

November  16,  1891. — As  showing  the  spirit  of 
unity  among  the  churches,  the  minutes  state:  "Rev. 
W.  H.  Warren  reported  that  the  churches  of  the  East 
District  (of  all  denominations)  will  unite  in  a  thanks- 
giving service  in  the  Central  Congregational  Church, 
Dr.  E.  K.  Bell,  of  the  First  Enghsh  Lutheran  Church, 
to  preach  the  sermon." 

November  23,  1891.  —  "On  motion  of  Rev.  W.  D. 
Holt,  it  was  resolved  to  hold  a  *mass  meeting  of 
Christian  workers,  etc." 

At  the  same  meeting:  "  On  motion  of  Rev.  H.  M, 
Curtis,  the  secretaries  of  the  districts  were  requested 
to  notify  the  pastors  of  all   the  districts  to  meet  Mr. 

■•■■  See  pages  19  and  24. 


Memorial  Volume.  41 

Mills  and  Mr.  Greenwood,  on  Friday  of  this  week, 
November  27th,  at  8  :30  A.  m.,  at  the  Grand  Hotel,  for 
a  conference." 

November  30,  1891.  —  "On  motion  of  Rev.  D. 
McKinney,  the  secretary  was  requested  to  draft  a  cir- 
cular letter  of  inquiry,  concerning"  the  financial  cooper- 
ation of  the  various  churches,  to  print  the  same  and 
distribute  to  the  district  secretaries,  to  be  sent  by  them 
to  the  pastors,  filled  out,  and  returned  for  transmission 
to  Mr.  Archer  Brown,  chairman  of  the  Financial  Com- 
mittee." 

The  same  date  ;  "  On  motion  of  Dr.  G.  K.  Morris, 
the  district  secretaries  were  requested  to  address  an 
announcement  and  appeal  to  superintendents  of  Young 
People's  Societies,  and  to  the  sisters  of  the  churches 
to  organize  for  assisting  in  the  work."  The  same  date: 
"Dr.  Bell  moved  that  the  chairman  be  requested  to 
prepare  a  *  circular  letter  to  the  churches,  etc." 

The  same  date  :  "  Rev.  W.H.Warren  moved  that  all 
the  pastors  be  requested  to  preach  upon  the  contem- 
plated work  on  the  last  Sabbath  morning  of  the  year.'' 

December  7,  1891.  — "  On  motion  of  Dr.  Tyler,  at 
the  request  of  Mr.  Mills,  a  '  Manual '  of  the  organiza- 
tion, was  ordered  printed."  (This  Manual  is  given  in 
full  at  the  end  of  this  Memorial  Volume). 

The  same  date  :  ' '  The  chairman  and  secretary  were 
appointed  a  committee  to  arrange  for  a  public  meeting 
in  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  Hall,  on  the  evening  of  December 
17,  to  be  addressed  by  Rev.  A.  E.  Thompson,  D.  D., 
of  Cleveland."  This  interesting  meeting  v/as  held  at 
the  time  appointed.  The  same  date:  "On  motion  of 
Rev.    W.    H.    Warren,    the  district  officers  were    re- 


See  letter  on  page  19. 


42  Mills  Meetings 

quested  to  furnish  Mr.  Mills  the  data  he  desires,  as  to 
location,  seating  capacity,  etc.,  of  the  churches  in  each 
district." 

December  14,  1891.  —  "On  motion  of  Dr.  Fran- 
cis, Mr.  George  T.  Howser  was  elected  chairman  of 
the  Central  Canvassing  Committee,  in  place  of  Dr. 
Pearson,  resigned." 

The  same  date  :  ' '  Dr.  Tyler  was  elected  chairman 
of  the  Central  Committee  on  Ushers  ;  Mr.  C.  A.  San- 
ders, chairman  of  the  Central  Committee  on  Music; 
(Mr.  Sanders  afterward  resigned,  and  Mr.  Frank  Joyce 
was  elected) ;  Dr.  Bell,  chairman  of  the  Central  Com- 
mittee on  Printing  and  Advertising ;  and  Dr.  McKib- 
bin  chairman  of  the    Central  Devotional  Committee." 

December  21,  1891.  —  "On  motion  of  Rev.  W.  H. 
Warren,  the  secretary  was  authorized  to  employ  a  sten- 
ographer and  typewriter  for  the  committee."  Mr. 
George  E.  Malsbary  was  secured,  and  served  faithfully 
during  the  entire  winter. 

December  29.  —  "Upon  the  recommendation  of  a 
special  committee  consisting  of  Dr.  Pearson,  Rev.  W, 
H.  Warren  and  Dr.  Bell,  the  following  ministers  were 
elected  advisory  members  of  the  Executive  Committee, 
viz.  :  Drs.  G.  W.  Lasher,  D.  H.  Moore,  R.  S.  Rust, 
F.  C.  Monfort,  E.  D.  Morris,  and  Bishop  Walden." 

The  same  date:  "  On  motion  of  Dr.  Pearson,  a  vote 
of  thanks  was  tendered  the  agent  of  the  Remington 
Type-writer  Company,  for  the  use  of  a  Remington 
type-writer  for  the  committee,  free  of  charge." 

January  12,  1892. — "Dr.  Simpson  reported,  from 
the  Special  Committee  on  Hotel  Accommodations,  that 
rooms  had  been  secured  for  Mr.  Mills  and  Mr.  Green- 
wood at  the  Gibson  House." 


Memorial  Volume.  43 

The  same  date:  "  A  communication  from  Mr.  Mills 
was  read,  stating  that  he  had  secured  Mr.  Geo.  C.  Steb- 
bins,  the  singer,  to  assist  Dr.  Chapman,  during  the 
three  weeks  of  his  work."  "Dr.  Pearson  moved  that 
a  meeting  of  all  the  pastors  of  cooperating  churches, 
and  such  laymen  as  the  pastors  may  invite,  be  held 
next  Tuesday  evening,  January  19.  Dr.  Monfort 
moved  that  the  secretary  invite  the  official  representa- 
tives of  pastorless  churches  to  be  present.  Bishop 
Walden  moved  that  we  request  the  use  of  the  Second 
Presbyterian  Church  lecture-room  for  this  Tuesday 
evening  meeting. "  ' '  The  Devotional  Committee  recom- 
mended that  an-all  day  union  prayer  meeting  be  held 
next  Wednesday,  January  20,  in  one  church  in  each 
district,  from  9  to  1 1:30  and  from  1:30  to  4." 

January  19,  1892.  —  "On  motion  of  Rev.  H.  W. 
Gilchrist,  a  vote  of  thanks  was  tendered  the  Times-Star, 
and  its  representative,  Mr.  J.  C.  Hagar  in  particular, 
for  their  cordial  cooperation  with  us  in  this  move- 
ment." 

"Dr.  Simpson  presented  a  final  address  to  the  pas- 
tors, which  was  ordered  printed  and  sent  to  the 
pastors."  * 

WELCOME  TO  MR.    MILLS  AND  MR.    GREENWOOD. 

The  preparatory  work  of  the  Executive  Committee 
was  now  finished,  and  at  three  o'clock  Thursday  after- 
noon the  committee  met  in  the  pastor's  study  of  the 
Central  Congregational  Church,  to  welcome  Mr.  Mills 
and  Mr.  Greenwood,  and  spent  half  an  hour  in  a  pleas- 
ant informal  conference. 

*  See  page  25. 


44  Mills  Meetings 

meetings  after  january  21,  1 892, 

During  the  progress  of  the  meetings  in  the  city, 
several  meetings  of  the  Executive  Committee  were  held 
at  the  call  of  the  chairman,  for  special  purposes. 

Monday,  February  8,  1892,  the  Executive  Com- 
mittee met  in  the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  at  which 
the  chairman  suggested  the  advisability  of  publishing  a 
"Memorial  Volume, "  as  a  permanent  record  of  the 
present  great  religious  movement  in  the  city.  The 
proposition  was  approved,  and  an  Editorial  Committee, 
consisting  of  Drs.  Francis,  Simpson  and  Tyler,  was 
appointed  to  consider  the  entire  subject  of  the  print- 
ing and  publication  of  such  book,  and  report  day  after 
to-morrow. 

Wednesday,  February  lo,  1892,  the  Executive 
Committee  met  in  the  pastor's  study  of  the  First  Pres- 
byterian church.  The  Special  Committee  on  the  Mem- 
orial Volume  reported,  presenting  a  proposition  for 
the  publishing  of  the  book  from  "The  Standard  Pub- 
lishing Company,"  East  Ninth  street.  This  proposi- 
tion was,  in  brief,  that  ifthe  Executive  Committee  would 
elect  an  editor-in-chief,  to  have  the  charge  of  compil- 
ing and  editing  the  proposed  book,  the  Standard  Pub- 
lishing Company  would  undertake  the  entire  work  of 
its  publication  and  sale,  and  secure  for  the  editor,  as  a 
capable  assistant,  Charles  B.  Morrell,  M.  D.,  to  aid  in 
the  work. 

This  proposition  was  accepted  by  the  committee, 
and  the  editor  of  this  volume  was  unanimously  elected, 
and  Dr.  Charles  B.  Morrell  approved  as  his  assistant. 
At  the  request  of  the  editor,  the  committee  was  con- 
tinued as  an  Editorial  Committee. 


Memorial  Volume.  45 

Wednesday,  February  17,  1892,  the  Executive 
Committee  met  in  the  pastor's  study  of  the  First  Pres- 
byterian Church.  The  chairman,  Dr.  Simpson,  after 
prayer,  presented,  at  the  request  of  Mr.  Mills,  the  im- 
portant matter  of  the  day  to  be  observed  as  a  "Mid- 
week Sabbath,"  on  which  special  services  should  be 
held  in  Music  Hall,  and  the  places  of  business  in  the 
city  be  closed,  (i)  in  deference  to  the  great  religious 
movement  now  in  progress,  and  (2)  in  order  to  afford 
business  men  and  theii  employes  an  opportunity  to 
attend  the  services.  Mr.  Mills  suggested  Wednesday, 
March  2,  as  the  day,  and  also  suggested  the  appoint- 
ment of  a  special  committee  to  have  charge  of  the 
whole  matter.  After  a  full  conference  the  following 
members  were  elected  to  constitute  this  "  Mid-week 
Sabbath  Committee, "  viz:  Drs.  Simpson,  Lewis,  Tyler, 
and  Francis.  A  brief  statement  of  the  work  of  this 
committee  will  be  found  elsewhere. 

About  a  w^eek  before  the  close  of  the  Music  Hall 
meetings,  the  Executive  Committee,  and  the  pastors 
generally,  met  in  the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  at  the 
call  of  the  chairman.  Dr.  Simpson,  who  submitted  the 
suggestion  of  a  social  gathering  and  lunch,  to  be  held 
before  Mr.  Mills  and  Mr.  Greenwood  should  leave,  to 
which  all  the  ministers,  and  also  as  many  laymen  as 
would  come,  should  be  invited.  The  suggestion  was 
heartily  approved,  and  a  Committee  of  Arrangements 
was  appointed,  consisting  of  Dr.  Wm.  McKibbin,  Rev. 
E.  A.  Ince,  and  Dr.  J.  Z.  Tyler.  This  banquet,  re- 
ported elsewhere,  was  held  at  the  Gibson  House, 
Saturday  evening,  March  5,  and  was  a  delightful  affair. 


46  Mills  Meetings 

"we,     being    many,    are   one    body    in    CHRIST." 

It  may  be  of  interest  to  state  the  denominational 
connections  of  the  members  of  the  Executive  Com- 
mittee. Of  the  seventeen  members,  as  given  in  the 
Manual,  there  were  — 

Six  Presbyterians.  —  Messrs.  Anderson,  Curtis, 
Francis,  Gilchrist,  Ritchie,  and  Steward. 

Five  Methodists. —  Messrs.  Lewis,  Cooper,  Morris, 
Pearson,  and  Robinson. 

Three  Congregationalists. — Messrs.  Simpson,  War- 
ren, and  Howser. 

One  Baptist.— Mr.  Holt. 

One  Lutheran.  —  Dr.  Bell. 

One  Christian. — Dr.  Tyler. 

And  of  the  Advisory  Members  : 

Three  Methodists. — Drs.  Moore,  Rust,  and  Bishop 
Walden. 

Two  Presbyterians. — Drs.  Monfort  and  Morris. 

One  Baptist. — Dr.  Lasher. 

One  Christian. — Mr.  Errett. 

In  all  the  work  and  conferences  of  the  committee, 
however,  all  denominational  diiTerences  were  forgotten, 
and  no  band  of  Christian  brothers  ever  worked  to- 
gether week  after  week,  and  month  after  month,  in 
closer  unity  or  more  perfect  harmony  than  did  the  mem- 
bers of  the  "Mills  Meetings  Executive  Committee 
OF  Cincinnati." 


THE  SIX  OTHER  COMMITTEES. 


It  is  difficult  to  present  satisfactorily  the  consti- 
tution and  methods  of  the  committees  in  charge  of  the 
six  great  departments  of  the  work,  because  of  the  com- 
plex nature  of  the  organization.  The  plan  of  Mr. 
Mills,  which  was  followed  here  with  some  necessary 
variations,  embraces  six  general  departments  : 

I.  Finance;  2.  Advertising;  3.  Canvassing;  4.  Mu- 
sic ;   5.    Ushers  ;  6.    Devotional. 

In  the  Cincinnati  and  Covington  movement,  how- 
ever, the  field  was  divided  into  five  distinct  districts,  in 
each  of  which  services  were  held,  before  the  general 
meetings  in  Music  Hall  began.  Each  of  these  five 
districts  had  its  separate  and  perfect  organization,  with 
its  chairman  and  secretary,  and  six  independent  com- 
mittees, carrying  on  its  work  irrespective  of  the  othor 
districts,  and  subject  only  to  the  General  Executive 
Committee.  Then,  in  addition  to  these  district  organ- 
izations, there  were  six  central  committees  for  the 
final  work  in  Music  Hall,  These  were  made  up,  for 
the  most  part,  of  the  chairmen  of  the  district  com- 
mittees. Thus  there  were  really  six  distinct  committees 
on  finance,  six  on  advertising,  etc.,  making  thirty-six 
committees  in  all.  The  only  variations  from  this  plan 
were  (i)  that  the  Finance  Committee  of  the  five 
districts  acted  throughout  as  one  committee,  and  (2) 
that  during  the  meetings  in  the  heart  of  the  city  the 
fourth  and  fifth  districts  and  their  committees  were 
consolidated,  for  more  effective  work.      In  the  Manuai 


48  Mills   Meetings 

at  the  end  of  this  book  will  be  found  all  the  details  of 
this  complex  organization.  It  will  not  be  necessary  to 
repeat  them  in  the  following  mention  of  the  respective 
committees.  We  will  endeavor  to  state  briefly  the 
scope  and  methods  of  each  committee.  There  was  a 
great  amount  of  genuine  hard  work  done  by  each,  and 
it  was  done  thoroughly. 


I.     THE  COMMITTEE  ON  FINANCE. 


OFFICERS  OF  THE  COMMITTEE. 

Archer  Brown,  Chairman;  Mt.  Ajiburn  District. — Mat- 
United  Bank  Building.  thew  Addy,  Archer  Brown. 

J.  E.  Q.  Maddox,  Secretary;  Covingioii    District.  —  C.    S. 

']l  Smith  Building.  Furber,  W.  B.  Carpenter. 

Louis  Manss,  Treasurer;  loi  East    District.  —  Henry    W. 

West  Pearl  street.  Sage,  Louis  Manss. 

Walnut  Hills  District. — Geo.  West  District. — Thomas  Gib- 
Peck,  J.  E.  Q.  Maddox.  son,  Robert  T.  Morris. 


This  committee  was  made  up,  as  already  stated  of 
the  Finance  Committees,  of  two  business  men  from 
each  of  the  five  districts.  It  was  the  only  one  of  the 
committees,  except  the  Executive  Committee,  which 
acted  as  one  committee  throughout,  for  all  the  districts. 
The  following  are  the  suggestions  of  Mr.  Mills  to  this 
committee,  as  given  in  his  "Suggestions  to  Com- 
mittees." 

TO  THE  COMMITTEE  ON  FINANCE. 

You  are  expected  to  receive  and  pay  the  bills  presented 
by  the  other  committees.  Each  committee  determines  the 
amount  to  be  expended  by  itself.  Arrange  for  your  local 
incidental  expenses — first,  by  private  subscriptions  before 
the  meetings  commence;  or,  second,  by  assessment  on  the 


*^> 


ARCHKR    BROWN. 

Chairman   P'iiiance    Committee. 


HKNRV   W.  SAGK. 
Vice-Chairman   Finance    Committee. 


S35.?<??S 


J.  E.  O.  MADDOX. 

Secretary   Finance  Committee. 


LOUIS    MANSS. 
Treasurer  Finance  Committee. 


Memorial  Volume.  49 

churches  concerned,  in  proportion  to  size  and  financial 
strength ;  or,  third,  by  collections  at  the  union  meetings 
on  Sunday. 

These  plans  are  desirable  in  the  order  specified.  This 
fund  will  pay  all  expenses  of  the  various  committees,  and  if 
you  wish  to  include  the  traveling  expenses  and  hotel  bills 
of  my  musical  associate  and  myself,  I  have  no  objection. 
Besides  this,  you  must  gather  no  money  by  subscription  or 
collection  for  us,  as  we  can  consent  to  receive  no  salary, 
except  such  free-will  offerings  as  individuals  desire  to  make 
to  the  Lord  for  our  services.  You  can  have  a  clear  under- 
standing with  the  people  about  this  before  the  beginning, 
and  make  such  announcements  of  it  as  may  please  you  during 
the  last  da3^s  of  the  meetings. 

If  you  desire  to  consult  me  further  upon  this  matter  I  can 
tell  you  concerning  the  most  delicate  plans  that  have  been 
devised  in  other  places;  but  we  desire  to  be  -very  careful,  lest 
the  work  should  suffer  in  any  way,  from  the  manner  of  col- 
lecting money  for  our  support. 

The  plan  adopted  for  Cincinnati  was  the  sec- 
ond of  the  three  mentioned  by  Mr.  Mills.  The 
committee,  in  consultation  with  him,  early  determined 
upon  three  points:  (i)  that  no  collections  for  ex- 
penses should  be  taken  up  in  any  of  the  meetings  ;  (2) 
that  the  amount  of  estimated  expenses  should  be  ap- 
portioned among  the  cooperating  churches,  as  equitably 
as  possible ;  (3)  that  the  amount  necessary  for  expenses 
should  be  estimated  at  five  thousand  dollars.  Requests 
based  upon  this  estimate  were  sent  to  the  churches, 
varying  from  twenty-five  dollars  to  three  hundred  dol- 
lars each,  and  met  with  a  ready  response.  The  com- 
mittee had  entire  charge  of  all  financial  matters,  in  all 
the  districts,  and  it  need  not  be  said  that  the  work  of  these 
ten  Christian  gentlemen  was  well  done.  It  should  be 
clearly  understood  that  this  money  was  used  solely  for 


50  Mills  Meetings 

the  expenses  of  the  meetings,  chiefly  the  immense 
amount  of  printing  and  advertising,  and  the  rent  of 
Music  Hall,  not  one  penny  of  it  going  to  Mr.  Mills,  or 
to  any  of  the  evangelists,  except  a  moderate  salary  to 
Mr.  Stebbins,  and  the  hotel  bills  of  the  others.  Even 
the  latter  was  voluntary  on  the  part  of  the  committee. 
Mr.  Mills  positively  declines  to  receive  any  salary,  or  to 
allow  any  collections  for  him,  taking  only  such  free-will 
offerings  as  may  be  given  him  by  individuals,  the  amount 
of  which  is  never  known  to  any  one  except  himself. 

The  movement  in   Cincinnati  owes  much  to  the  in- 
terest and  efficiency  of  its  Finance  Committee. 


II.    THE  COMMITTEE  ON  ADVERTISING. 


GENERAL  COMMITTEE. 
Dr.  E.  K.  Bell,  Chairman ;  East  District. 

Rev.    D.    McKiNNEY,    West  Mr.  H.  P.  Mann,  Mt.  Auburn 

District.  District. 

Rev.  C.  J.  Tannar,  Walnut  Rev.  W.  H.  Neel,  Covington 

Hills  District.  District. 


This  committee  is  made  up  of  the  chairmen  of 
all  the  district  advertising  committees.  This  is -the 
case  with  all  the  other  committees  following.  Each 
district  committee  attended  to  the  work  in  its  district 
during  the  progress  of  the  meeting  in  that  district ; 
then  this  Central  Committee  attended  to  the  Music 
Hall  meetings.  The  scope  of  its  work  will  be  seen  in 
Mr.  Mills'  Suggestio7ts  to  Committees. 

TO   THE   COMMITTEE   ON   ADVERTISING. 

T.  Do  not  state  anywhere  how  long  the  meetings  will 
continue.     No  one  knows. 


Memorial  Volume.  5 1 

II.  Make  announcements  for  only  a  few  days  at  a  time; 
never  more  than  one  week. 

III.  Advertising  is  not  only  to  convey  information,  but 
to  make  people  realize  the  importance  of  this  movement. 

IV.  Do  not  confine  your  efforts  to  what  is  suggested  be- 
low. Think  of  other  ways  to  do  your  work  effectively,  and 
by  all  proper  methods  try  to  stimulate  expectancy  and  in- 
terest. 

V.  Enlist  editors  and  reporters  of  all  your  newspapers. 
Furnish  them  matter  to  awaken  public  attention  for  two  or 
three  months  previous  to  the  commencement  of  the  meet- 
ings . 

See  that  reporters  attend  all  the  services,  if  possible.  If 
not,  get  the  papers  to  print  what  you  furnish,  and  see  that 
complete  reports  are  printed  in  every  issue,  even  if  you  have 
to  write  them  or  hire  a  man  to  do  it  for  you. 

Furnish  complete  notices  for  every  day,  including  Sun- 
da}',  to  all  the  principal  papers.  This  does  not  mean  to 
Sunday  papers. 

VI.  Have  articles  written  for  all  principal  denomina- 
tional and  undenominational  papers  which  have  a  fair  cir- 
culation in  your  community.  See  that  this  is  thoroughly 
done,  as  it  will  go  far  toward  awakening  your  church  mem- 
bers to  the  importance  of  the  effort.  Keep  this  up  by  seeing 
that  reports  are  furnished  them  as  the  meetings  progress. 
Send  Siinday  notices  to  all  pastors  whose  people  might  possibly 
be  benefited,  both  in  and  out  of  the  combination. 

VII.  Bulletins. — This  includes  all  kinds  of  posters, 
placards,  bulletins,  etc.,  which  your  ingenuity  can  devise, 
and  your  judgment  commend. 

The  horse-cars  furnish  a  valuable  medium  when  you  can 
secure  their  use,  both  inside  and  out. 

Bulletin  boards,  3 1^x4  >^  feet,  to  be  placed  in  front  of  all 
churches,  and  on  all  prominent  corners,  should  never  be 
omitted.  The  best  shape  is  like  this,  y\^,  with  bills  on  both 
sides.  Change  the  notices  on  them  daily,  or  as  often  as  any 
change  is  to  be  made  in  the  services.     This  is  very  inexpen- 


52  Mills  Meetings 

sive,  and  is  one  of  the  most  valuable  methods.  Placards 
in  stores,  factories,  hotels,  etc.,  and  posters  for  bill  boards 
and  the  surrounding  towns  and  country,  are  also  advisable. 
Do  not  try  to  put  too  much  on  any  poster  or  placard,  and 
make  them  all  different.  People  can  get  details  from  other 
sources.  Your  work  is  to  attract  attention  so  that  "  he  that 
runs  may  read." 

VIII.  On  Tickets,  Cards,  Hand-Bills,  &c. — Your 
work  will  be  done  principally  after  the  meetings  commence. 
Before  I  come,  do  what  you  think  wise  in  the  distribution  of 
cards  or  hand-bills  ;  and  after  my  arrival,  please  confer  with 
me  at  once  about  further  work. 

XI.  Please  report  to  me  on  my  arrival,  and  daily  there- 
after. 

These  suggestions  were  strictly  observed  by  the 
committee  in  Cincinnati,  except,  of  course,  as  to  No.  I. 
No  adequate  estimate  can  be  formed  of  the  amount  of 
work  done  by  this  committee.  To  keep  seventy  pas- 
tors and  churches  constantly  informed ;  to  print  and 
change  daily  the  large  posters  on  hundreds  of  bulletin 
boards  all  over  a  great  city;  to  keep  in  touch  with  all 
the  newspapers  ;  to  placard  the  different  lines  of  electric, 
cable,  and  horse-cars  ^  to  attend  to  the  printing  and 
distribution,  almost  every  day,  of  tens  of  thousands  of 
tickets  of"  admission  to  special  services,  and  tens  of 
thousands  of  ever-varying  announcement  cards,  was  a 
task  of  vast  dimensions.  But  it  was  admirably  done. 
In  the  great  Central  District  it  seemed  as  if  there 
had  been  a  special  inspiration  in  the  selection  of  such 
able  and  wise  men  as  Dr.  Bell  and  Rev.  Mr.  McKinney 
for  this  important  work ;  and  the  work  in  the  other 
districts  shows  that  the  other  chairmen  were  equally 
faithful.  We  give  on  the  following  pages  a  few  samples 
of  the  cards  and  tickets  used  in  the  city  by  them. 


Memorial  Volume.  53 


REV.     B.     FAY     MILLS  Present  this  Card  at  the   Door 

The  Evangelist, 


-To  YOUNG  PEOPLE, 


All  Youno  People  fr  m  io  to  35  vears  of  aq 

Fourth  Presbyterian  Church, 
Asbury  Chapel, 
Pilgrim  Chapel, 
United  Presbyterian  Church, 
The  Bethel, 

First  Presbyterian  Church, 
MeKendree  Chapel, 
Columbia  Congregational  Church, 
Pearl  Street  M.  E.  Church, 
Sixth  Presbyterian  Church, 

ARE  EXPECTED- 

Sunday  Morning,  February  14,  1892,  at  11  o'clock. 


First  Presbyterian  Church 

Fourth  Street,  Bet. Walnut  &  Main. 


S 


MUSIC  HALL,  Sunday,  February  28,  1892 


REV.  B.  FAY   IVIIIvIvS         j^ 

WILL    PREACH  \J^^ 

TO    TV^EN    ONUVlK 


Song  Service  7:10  p.  M.      DOORS  OPEN  AT  7.        Sermon  7: io  P.M. 


Solo  by  Mr.  Greenwood.  The  Choir  of  700  will  sing. 


ALL.      Men        i==  -$-  P'-^'^SE   PRESENT 

I  -    -    -    TH(S  AT 

"    "    "    THE    DOOR 

ARE    INVITED  TO   HEAR 

REV.  J.  W  CHAPMAN  &  REV.  B.  FAY  MILLS 


St.   Paul's  M.    E.   Church,      y     Central  Christian  Church, 

Seventh  and  Smith  Streets,  sjj         9th  St.,  bet.  Cent.  Ave.  &  Plum, 
A.t  7.30   F.IVI.                  ||X||  At   7.30   P.  ]VI. 

SUNDAY,    HEBr^UAI^Y   !§,    1892. 

G"OD  AT  Either  S  Rvcg      .  'g,       ]VIEN      ONLY 

Men  living  West  of  Cent.  Ave.  please  attend  St.  Paul's  i\L  E.  Church,'at  7:30. 

Men  living  East  of  Cent.  Ave.  please  attend  Central  Christian  Church,  at  7:^0. 

Messrs.  Greenwood  and  Stebbins  will  sing. 


54 


Mills  Meetings 


THE  MILLS  ^ 

*  MEETINGS 


pRrtVER  Meeting 

Daily. 

1st  Presbyterian  Cliureli, 

Fourth  Street. 

between  Main  and  Walnut, 

12  'JO  ii-A:>. 


RPU    R    flV  Will  I  <;  and     St.  Paul's  M.  E.  Church,  7:30  P.  M. 
m,  Hi  rAI   IVI1LL5  anO     central  Christian  Church,  7-30  P.  M. 

Ninth  Street  Baptist  Church,  3:30  P.  M. 

Ladies'  Prayer  Meeting,  Ninth  St.  Baptist  Church, 
2:45  to  3:25  daily. 

Central  Congregational  Church,  10  A.  M. 


J, 


AT  MUSIC  HALL, 

Commencing 
.  .  February  22d..  .  . 


COMMENCING  FEB.  11. 

—  SINGING    BY  — 

Messrs.  Greenvrood    and    Stebbins, 


Jv^r.  Mills   Last   Sermon 


(  lo  to  35  years.) 

At 3:30  P.M.  SUNDAY  AFTERNOON,  FEBRUARY  28, 8i~.n.gat3. 
At    WLxjsic    Hall. 


Doors  open  at  2:43  P.  M. 


Good,  till  8  o'eloek. 


Kj* 


m 


REV.  J.  W.  CHAPMAN,  D.  D. 

TO 

VOUNG     REORL 

ID  TO  35  years. 
THIRD    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH, 

Seventh  St.,  bet.  Baymiller  and  Linn. 


ALL  YOUNG   PEOPLE   FROM 
Richmond  St.  Christian  Church,     Storrs  Congregational  Church, 
Grace  M.  P.  Church.  St.  John  M.  E    Church, 

Third  Presbyterian  Church,  McLean  M.  E.  Church, 

Price  Hill  Presbyterian  Church,     Central  Presbyterian  Church, 
Plymouth  Congregat'l  Church,       Price  Hill  M.  E.  Church. 

-   are    EXPECTED   - 


"13 

"CD 
03 

■  ^ 
,,<-f 


Memorial  Volume.  55 


Special   Announcement   for   Monday. 


3:30  p.  M.— Mr.  Mills  to  MOTHERS. 


7:45  P.  M.— Mr.  Mills  on  INFIDELITY  IN  HISTORY, 


Both   at   M:USIC   HALL. 


THE  MILLS  MEETINGS, 
COME  AND  HEAR 


Rev.  B.  Fay  Mills  and 
Rev.  J.  W.  Chapman, 


CENTRAL  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH,  _„    xTT^TTrr, 

9th  St.,  bet.  Central  Ave.  &  Plum.  [  Q-NIGHT 

ST.  PAUL'S  M.  E.  CHURCH,  -.,„,,,      ' 

Seventh  and  Smith  Streets.  *  •  "  '=<>"  <>  c'oc'''  '  "  ■ 

Singing  at  7:20  by  Choir  of  200.      Solos  by  Messrs.  Greenwood  and  Stebbins. 


Ladies'  Prayer  Meeting, 

HELD    IN   THE    NINTH    STREET   BAPTIST   CHURCH, 

Between  Race  and  Vine  Streets. 


3:4s   to  3:25   p.  m. 


PRAYERS  AND   REMARKS  LIMITED   TO  TWO  MINUTES. 
Friday,  Feb.  12. — "  Prayer  for  the  Holy  Spirit."     Lk.  ir:  13. 

Mrs.  Mary  L.  Wells. 
Monday,      •'    15.—"  Prayer  for  our  Young  People."      Mk.  9:  14-27. 

Mrs.  John  J.  Just  s. 
Tuesday,    "    16.— "  Prayer  for  the  Spirit  of  Willingness  to  Work  for  Christ." 

Mrs.  Wm.  H.  Warren.        [Acts  9:  6. 
Thursday,"   18. — "  Prayer  for  the  Almost  Persuaded."     Acts  26:  28. 

Mrs.  H.  B.  Belmer. 
Friday,        "    19. — "  Prayer  that  the  Indifferent  May  be  Awakened." 

Mrs.  G.  R.  Robbins.  [Acts  18:  17^ 

TO   THE    LEADER. 

Open  aud  Close  on  the  DIfnutej     Uo    Not  Sing  Mure  Tliiin  Two  Verses  at  a  Time.     Be  lirief. 

Do  Not  Itead  Here  Than  Four  or  Five  Verses. 


$6  Mills  Meetings 


Special   Easiness  J\Q\{et — /T^ori^ii^^    Seruiee. 

AOMIX  TWO  TO  MUSIC  HAL,I«, 

I    Good  at  Plum  St.  North  Entrance  till  lo  A    M,  Doors  open  at  9:30. 

These  cards,  and  dozens  of  others  like  them,  were 
distributed  by  thousands  at  the  meetings  and  all  over 
the  city,  and  attracted  multitudes  to  the  services.  In 
hundreds  of  business  houses  large,  handsomely  printed 
cards  were  displayed  in  the  windows,  and  at  the 
churches  and  on  the  street-corners  large  bulletin  boards 
were  placed. 


III.  COMMITTEE   ON   CANVASSING. 


GENERAL  COMMITTEE. 

Geo.  T.  Howser,  Chairman;  Rev.  W.  E.  Loucks,  Walnut 

Gen.  Sec.  Y.  M.  C.  A.  Hills  District. 

Rev.  W.  D.  Holt,  East  Dis-  Dr.  J.  Pearson,  Mt.  Auburn 

trict.  District. 

Rev.  G.   R.   RoBBiNS,   West  Dr.  J.  I.   Blackburn,   Cov- 

District.  ington  District. 


The  work  of'  this  committee  was  to  organize  and 
send  out  a  great  body  of  Christian  men  and  women, 
selected  from  all  the  churches,  to  prepare  the  way  for 
the  coming  meetings,  by  canvassing  the  entire  city,  and 
carry  personally  to  every  man  and  woman,  in  their 
homes  and  places  of  business,  the  announcements  of 
the  meetings,  and  earnest  verbal  and  printed  invitations 
to  attend  the  services.  It  is  probable  than  not  less 
than  five  or  six  hundred  persons  were  engaged   in  this 


c;i\()RGli    T.   IK  i\\  Sl.K 

(ieneral  Secretary  of  the  Voimg  Men's 
Christian  Assiu^i^tinn.^ 


J.  D.  SHUTT. 

Meniher  of  Kirjanee  Committee,  Covington. 


CtEorc.I':  pivCk. 

Memlicr  of  Finance  Coirt[nitt-;e.  Walnut 
H.ll-. 


W.  MENDENHALI.. 

■ecrelary    of  Statistics,  anil    Mr,  Mills 
Husiness  Agent. 


Memorial  Volume.  57 

department  of  the  organization.  The  extent  and  spirit 
of  the  work  may  be  indicated  by  the  fact  that  in  one 
district  alone  (the  West)  nearly  two  hundred  canvassers 
met,  at  the  call  of  their  chairman,  week  after  week  in 
the  Richmond  street  Christian  Church,  and  spent  the 
evening-  in  planning  their  work,  and  in  prayer  and 
praise,  and  the  first  order  sent  from  this  district  to  the 
printers  was  for  fifty  thousand  printed  cards  of  invita- 
tion. 

Mr.  Mills'  "Suggestions"  to  this  committee  are  as 
follows : 

TO   THE    COMMITTEE   ON   CANVASSING. 

Divide  your  region  into  districts,  and  have  efficient  can- 
vassers visit  every  house  and  store  and  factory  and  office. 
They  would  better  carry  visiting  cards,  which  you  may  have 
printed,  leaving  a  space  for  the  names  to  be  written. 

"  We  should  be  glad  to  see  some  member  of  your  family  for  a 
few  minutes.  We  have  called  to  present  you  with  a  special  in- 
vitation to  the  tinioyi  religious  services  soon  to  commence  in  this 
cityr 

Name 

This  should  be  done  the  week  before  the  meetings  com- 
mence. I  need  not  say  that  you  should  get  efficient  workers 
to  do  this. 

Furnish  them  attractive  invitations,  which  they  are  to 
give  to  the  people  when  they  call  —  personally  if  possible. 
When  the  residents  do  not  wish  to  see  them,  they  may  leave 
the  invitations  without  a  personal  interview  ;  but  when  it  is 
possible,  let  them  try  to  leave  a  spiritual  impression  from 
the  call. 

Keep  your  committee  and  canvassers  organized,  so  that 
they  can  be  ready  for  further  work,  if  desired. 

We  give  below  samples  of  the  cards  used  in  the 
Mt.  Auburn  District,  and  in  the  United  Central  Dis- 


58  Mills  Meetings 

trict,  the  latter  being  printed  on  both  sides,  the  back 
containing  the  announcement  of  the  times  and  places 
of  the  services,  which  need  not  be  repeated  here. 


Yourself  and  friends  are  hereby  cordially  invited  to 
attend  the  union  religious  services  now  being  conducted 
in  our  city  by  Rev.  B.  Fay  Mills,  the  eminent  evangel- 
ist. He  will  commence  services  in  the  Mt.  Auburn 
Churches  on  February  2,  1892.  In  these  services  the 
Presbyterian,  Baptist  and  Methodist  Episcopal  Churches 
of  Avondale,  Clifton  and  Mt.  Auburn  unite.  The  evening 
services  will  be  held  in  the  Mt.  Auburn  Presbyterian 
Church.  The  other  meetings  in  the  district  will  be  an- 
nounced at  the  evening  service.        John  Pearson, 

Chairman  of  Canvassing  Cominittee. 

(Place  for  name  of  canvasser). 


This  card  brings  to  yourself,  the  household  of  which 
3'ou  are  a  member,  and  friends,  a  special  and  hearty 
invitation  to  attend  the  evangelistic  services  soon  to 
begin  under  the  leadership  of  Rev.  B.  Fay  Mills  and 
Mr.  lyAWRENCE  B.  Greenwood. 

It  is  brought  to  you  through  a  special  committee 
representing  the  churches  interested  and  cooperating  in 
the  support  of  these  meetings. 


IV.     THE  COMMITTEE  ON  MUSIC. 


GENERAL   COMMITTEE. 

Frank  M.  Joyce,  Chair-  C.  A.  Sanders,  Vice-Chair- 
man, man;  Walnut  Hills  District. 

Rev.  H.  W.  Gilchrist,  East  Rev.  E.  A.  Ince,  Mt  Auburn 

District.  District. 

Rev.  A.  M.   Dawson,  West  Col.   J.    A.   Johnson,    Cov- 

District.  ington  District. 


The  music  was  a  very  marked  feature  of  these  great 
union  services,  and  the  work  of  the  Music  Committee 


Memorial  Volume.  59 

was,  therefore,  a  very  important  factor  of  the  great 
movement.  To  select,  secure,  and  properly  organize 
the  hundreds  of  singers  who  constituted  the  large  dis- 
trict choirs,  and  the  wonderful  Music  Hall  choir,  was 
not  a  light  undertaking.  But  the  committees  were 
equal  to  the  task,  and  It  is  doubtful  whether  Mr. 
Greenwood  ever  found  his  department  of  the  services 
more  perfectly  organized,  and  more  efficient,  than  in 
musical  Cincinnati. 

In  the  districts  the  choirs  ranged  from  one  to  two 
hundred  members,  while  the  great  choir  in  Music  Hall 
numbered  nearly  one  thousand  singers,  and  was 
accompanied  during  all  the  services  held  there  by 
the  magnificent  Music  Hall  organ,  which  ranks  among 
the  few  greatest  organs  of  the  world,  and  which  was 
made  to  produce  the  best  possible  effects  by  the  ac- 
complished organists.   Miss  Snyder  and  Mr.  Austin. 

The  names  of  all  the  Music  Hall  choir,  which  in- 
cluded all  the  district  choirs,  are  given  in  the  last  pages 
of  this  book.  Mr.  Sanders  acted  as  chairman,  in  the 
absence  of  Mr.  Joyce. 

The  "Suggestions"  of  Mr.  Mills  to  the  Music 
Committee  are  as  follows : 

TO  THE  COMMITTEE  ON  MUSIC. 

The  book  will  be  Gospel  Hymns,  No.  5,  with  the  addi- 
tion of  standard  hymns  selected  by  me.  This  is  a  special 
edition  for  my  exclusive  use,  and  not  for  sale.  These  books 
are  to  be  furnished  to  3'ou  for  your  use  during  the  meeting, 
free,  on  the  following  conditions: 

1.  You  are  to  pay  all  cost  of  transportation  and  replace 
boxes,  etc.,  where  it  may  be  necessary. 

2.  You  are  to  pay  Biglow&Main  twent3^-foiir  cents  a  copy 
for  all  books  lost  or  stolen  or  mutilated  while  in  your  care. 


6o  Mills  Meetings 

3.  You  are  to  arrange  to  have  Gospel  Hymns,  No.  5,  reg- 
ular edition,  for  sale  in  some  convenient  part  of  the  building 
where  the  meetings  are  held.  You  are  to  pay  all  cost  of 
transportation  for  these  books  to  and  from  the  publishers. 
They  are  to  be  furnished  you  at  the  lowest  wholesale  price 
per  hundred,  and  you  are  to  sell  them  in  no  case  for  less  than 
thirty  cents  apiece. 

The  box  containing  books  for  the  choir  will  be  sent  to  you 
several  weeks  before  the  meetings  coiumence.  I  think  you 
will  perceive  the  great  liberality  of  this  arrangement,  for 
which  you  are  indebted  to  the  publishers  and  to  Mr. 
Sankey. 

Form  a  large  union  choir  of  as  many  good  voices  as  are 
obtainable,  and  have  them  commence  to  practice  at  once,  and 
learn  all  the  hymns  in  the  book.  You  may  supply  the  choir 
with  books,  or  let  the  members  buy  them,  as  you  wish.  Se- 
lect a  good  leader  to  drill  the  choir,  and  engage  a  good  organ- 
ist to  be  present  at  all  the  meetings.  Keep  the  same  organ- 
ist for  all  the  services.  Do  not  exclude  singers  not  Christians 
from  the  choir,  although  the  leader  and  organist  should  be 
earnest  Christians,  if  possible. 

After  I  come,  my  musical  director  will  take  entire  charge 
of  the  choir. 

It  would  be  well  to  have  an  ironclad  agreement  with  mem- 
bers of  the  choir  to  attend  the  evening  meetings,  and  furnish 
them  tickets  of  admission  for  the  evenings  when  they  will 
agree  to  surely  be  present. 

Arrange  this  so  as  to  have  the  choir  seats  full  each  even- 
ing, giving  the  preference  to  the  best  singers  and  those  who 
are  most  faithful  at  rehearsals. 

Report  your  plans  to  Mr.  Lawrence  B.  Greenwood, 
Chelsea,  Mass.,  and  send  him  a  plan  of  the  front  of  the 
church,  with  present  platform,  organ,  doors,  and  where  they 
lead  to,  height  and  arrangement  of  pews  and  pulpit,  etc.,  etc., 
all  distinctly  marked  on  them. 

We  give  some  samples  of  the  cards  used  by  the 
Music  Committee  in  Cincinnati. 


Memorial  Volume. 


6i 


3  rt 


OJ 


JO! 


u  g-a  c< 


MILLS  MEETINGS. 

IMPORTANT, 

I  hereby  promise  to  be  present  as  a  member 
of  the  Choir  at  a//  the  evening  services  at  Music 
Hall,  during  the  continuance  of  the  Union  Meet- 
ings, unless  unavoidably  detained,  in  which  case 
I  will  endeavor  to  provide  a  capable  substitute. 


Name- 


Address. 


MILLS  MEETINGS  CHOIR. 


Please  meet  Mr.  Greenwood  at  Music  Hall, 
Saturday  Evening-,  February  20,  1892,  at  half- 
past  seven  o'clock,  sharp. 

C.    A.   Sanders, 

Cincinnati,  Febniaiy  ij,  i8g2.  Chairman  Music  Committee. 


0!S"  It  is  important  to  have  a  full  Rehearsal  with  the  Large  Or- 
gan before  the  meetings  commence.  Don't  fail  to  be  present.  Also 
bring  all  friends  who  are  willing  to  help  the  work  in  this  way. 

The  music  by  the  Choir  will  be  an  important  feature  in  the 
meetings. 


MILLS 

CHORUS   TICKET. 

Music  Hall,  Fet 

CHORl. 

PLUM    STREET,   REAR 

BEARER. 

.  22  to  March  6,  1892. 

rS    ENTRANCE  : 

MUSIC    HALL,   SOUTH    HALL. 

62  Mills  Meetings 


--^ MILLS  MELTINGS^- 

first  (Polnut  liils)  district. 

Ja,3n.-a.a,r3r    21st    to    Slst,  a.S32. 

CHOIR  TICKET. 

Name 

Please  present  to  Usher.  (over.) 


Choir  Gallery. 
SEAT 

Platform. 

PUNCTUALITY   IMPORTANT. 

Please  be  in  your  Seats  Five  Minutes  before  the  hour 
of  Service. 

(over.) 


V.     THE  COMMITTEE  ON  USHERS. 


GENERAL  COMMITTEE. 

Dr.  J.  Z.   Tyler,  Chairman,  West  District. 

Rev.  W.  H.  Warren,  East      Rev.  J.  J.  McCabe,  Mt.  Au- 

District.  burn  district. 

Dr.  J.  W.  Simpson,   Walnut      Dr.  W.   A.  Robinson,  Cov- 
Hills  District.  ington  District. 


To  the  work  of  this  committee,  whose  duty  it  was 
to  select  a  large  body  of  men  to  act  as  ushers,  Mr. 
Mills  very  properly  attached  a  great  deal  of  impor- 
tance. The  term  "  usher,"  as  used  by  him,  has  an  en- 
tirely different    significance  from  that  which  is  usually 


Memorial  Volume.  63 

given  to  it.  He  frequently  speaks  of  his  ushers  as 
"assistant  evangelists."  Their  duties  include  not 
only  all  that  pertains  to  the  seating  and  comfort  of  the 
congregation,  but  the  distributing  of  the  cards  to  those 
desiring  to  begin  a  Christain  life,  and  earnest  personal 
work  among  the  inquirers  in  the  after-meetings. 
Hence  he  asks  that  they  shall  be  not  only  mature  men, 
but  the  most  efficient  and  consecrated  Christian  men 
in  the  churches.  Very  much  of  the  success  of  the 
meetings  depends  upon  their  good  judgment  and  effi- 
ciency. 

Each  usher  wears  a  badge  to  distinguish  him,  and 
has  assigned  to  him  a  certain  number  of  seats  in  the 
church  or  hall,  and  for  this  section  he  is  held  responsi- 
ble. The  ushers,  both  of  the  district  meetings  and  of 
Music  Hall,  taking  them  collectively,  were  as  fine  a 
body  of  men  as  could  have  been  selected  in  the  city. 
Each  district  had  its  perfect  organization,  with  a  chief 
usher,  and  several  assistant  chief  ushers.  The  corps  of 
ushers  for  Music  Hall,  made  up  of  the  district  ushers, 
consisted  of  about  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  men, 
with  Mr.  C.  A.  Sanders,  who  seemed  to  have  espe- 
cially qualified  for  the  honorable  and  responsible  posi- 
tion, as  grand  chief  usher,  and  with  four  able  chief 
ushers  in  charge  of  the  four  great  divisions  of  the  hall, 
viz.  :  Mr.  J.  L.  Korn,  auditorium  ;  Mr.  T.  M.  Wor- 
cester, gallery;  Mr.  A.  M.  Worcester,  balcony;  Mr. 
E.  E.  Shipley,  platform.  Besides  these,  there  were 
about  a  dozen  assistants  in  charge  of  smaller  sections. 
After  the  service  Monday  evening,  February  22,  the 
ushers  had  a  pleasant  social  gathering  and  banquet,  at 
Mr.  J.  B.  Martin's,  in  honor  of  visiting  brethren,  who 
had    been   ushers    at  the  Mills  meetings  in  EHzabeth, 


64 


Mills  Meetings 


N.  J.,  and  Indianapolis  and  Terre  Haute,  Indiana. 
We  give  some  samples  of  the  ushers'  cards,  pledges, 
etc.,  used  in  the  West  District  and  in  Music  Hall, 
which  embody  in  them  Mr.  Mills'  "Suggestions"  to 
ushers. 


J.  Z.  TYLER,  Ohairman  Committee  on  Ushers : 

/  will  serve  as  Usher  on  the  dates  indicated 
helow,  if  my  services  are  required. 


February.    .    . 

Tha, 
11 

Fri. 
12 

Sat. 
1.3 

Sun. 
14 

Mon. 
15 

Tui 
16 

Wed. 
17 

Thu. 
18 

Fri. 
10 

Sat. 
20 

Sun. 
21 

Afternoon. 

1 

1        1 

1 

Kvening. 

1         1         1         1 

1 

Sunday,  14lli,  1 1  a,  ra.                                    |    Sunday.  14th,  3.30  p.  m. 

Remarhs . 


J^fame ...... 

Address 


Memorial  Volume. 


65 


USHERS'  CARD 

FOR    THE 

Mills  Meetings 

TO    BE    HELD    FROM 

Feb.  Nth  to  Feb.  21st. 


AT  3:30  P.  M.  (daily) 

IN    THE 

Ninth  street  Baptist  Ctiufcli 

Between  Race  and  Vine  Streets, 
AND 

AT  7:30  p.  M.  (daily) 

IN    THE 

Central  Cliristian  Cliurdi 

Ninth  Street,  bet.  Central  Ave.  and  Plum. 

AND  IN  OTHER  CHURCHES  AS  ANNOUNCED. 


UNDER  THE  DIRECTION  OF 

Rev.  B.  Fay  Mills 

AND 

Rev.  J.  Wilbur  Chapman 

ASSISTED    BY 

MR.  LAWRENCE  B.  GREENWOOD 


0.  i51LBmi>5, 


J.  Z.  TYLER,  Chairman  of  Committee, 

353  West  Eighth  Street. 

W.  S.  DICKINSON,  Ciiief  Usher, 

Pearl  and  Vine  Streets. 


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Mills  Meetings 


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ADMIT  BEARER 

Soi^t^   '^iu'Wi  Street   ^vwtTawce, 

IVITJSIC    HAIvIv. 

i       February  22nd--Mareh  6th.      \ 

^  U/orKer's  J\Q\^t  ® 

ADMIT     BEARER 

TO 

AUDITORIUM   BY  USHER'S  DOOR, 

T:l5    SHARF", 

MUSIC  HALL 


AT    T:l5    SHARP", 

South  Plum  street 
Entrance, 


j     February  26th  to  March  5th,  1892. 


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CLERGYMAN, 

PLATFORM, 

MUSIC   HALL, 

February  22nd— March  6th. 


Memorial  Volume.  d'j 

RULES   AND   SUGGESTIONS    FOR   USHERS. 

1.  The  badge  should  be  worn  to  distinguish  the  ushers 
from  the  audience. 

2.  There  will  be  a  prayer  meeting  in  the  lecture  room 
of  the  church,  beginning  promptly  at  6:45  each  evening,  and 
continuing  for  ten  minutes,  and  each  usher  is  earnestly  re- 
quested to  be  in  attendance. 

3.  Doors  to  the  church  open  at  7:00,  and  each  usher 
should  be  in  his  position  before  that  time. 

4.  Your  position  in  the  church  is  indicated  by  your 
number  upon  the  plat,  and  ^-ou  are  requested  to  be  at  this 
place  upon  the  dates  indicated  by  a  cross  on  the  date 
schedule. 

5.  The  front  seats  should  be  filled  first.  Assign  people 
seats  where  j^ou  wish,  not  where  they  might  prefer. 

6.  Never  seat  any  one  while  Mr.  Greenwood  or  Mr.  Steb- 
bins  is  singing,  or  during  prayer. 

7.  Ushers  are  expected  to  remain  until  the  close  of  the 
last  meeting. 

8.  Ushers  who  can  not  be  present  on  any  date  assigned 
to  them  in  the  schedule  should  notify  the  chief  usher. 

10.  Ushers  are  requested  to  watch  all  announcements 
and  note  changes,  and  act  accordingly. 

11.  All  ushers  not  on  duty  are  requested  to  be  present 
with  badges  as  much  as  possible,  so  as  to  act  ofiicially  at  any 
possible  overflow  meeting. 

W.  S.  Dickinson,  Chief  Usher. 


Cincinnati,  Ohio,  February  ist,  1892. 
Mr 

Dear  Brother: — You  have  been  selected  to  serve  as 
usher  in  the  Mills  Meetings,  to  be  held  ever^^  afternoon  in 
the  Ninth  street  Baptist  Church,  and  every  evening  in  the 
Central  Christian  Church,  from  Thursday  evening,  February 
nth,  to  Sunday  evening,  Februar}-  t.isX..  You  are  requested 
to  serve  also  at  the  following  special  meetings  to  be  held 
Sunday,  February  14th,  in  the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  at 


68  Mills  Meetings 

II  A.  M.  (for  young  people  only),  and  in  the  Central  Christian 
Church,  at  3:30  P.  m.  (for  men  only). 

Mr.  Mills,  in  his  instructions  to  our  committee,  says  : 

"  Select  your  ablest  and  most  consecrated  full-grown 
men  from  all  the  churches,  and  get  them  pledged  to  attend 
all  the  evening  services,  and  as  many  of  the  afternoon  serv- 
ices as  may  be  possible.  Do  not  in  any  case  select  youths 
or  bo3'S  for  the  position  of  ushers,  but  let  us  have  such  men 
as  your  Sunday-school  superintendents  and  men  of  similar 
caliber.  We  use  the  ushers  for  such  a  variety  of  important 
duties  that  while  the  name  remains  the  same,  it  is  an  entire- 
ly new  office  from  that  to  which  you  are  accustomed  in  j-our 
ordinar)^  church  work." 

We  ask  that  you  give  this  matter  pra^^erful  considera. 
tion,  and  that  you  do  not  allow  ordinary  engagements  to  in- 
terfere with  the  opportunity  thus  opened  to  aid  in  carrying 
forward  the  Lord's  work. 

Please  indicate  upon  the  inclosed  blank,  by  a  cross,  (X) 
such  times  as  we  may  have  your  assistance.  An  usher's 
card  will  then  be  sent  you,  giving  definite  instructions  as  to 
your  dvities.  It  is  desirable  that  you  serve  not  less  than  six 
evenings  out  of  the  eleven.  Let  us  have yotir  reply  at  once. 
J.  Z.  Tyler,  C.  R.  Wagner, 

P.  C.  CURNICK,  J.  M.  SiMONTON, 

W.  C.  Payne;,         Committee  on  Ushers. 
A  meeting  of  all  the  ushers  will  be  called  at  an  early  date) 
of  which  you  will  be  duly  notified.     J.  Z.  TylER,  Chairman. 


VI.     THE  DEVOTIONAL  COMMITTEE. 


GENERAL  COMMITTEE. 
Dr.  William  McKibbin,  Chairman,  Walnut  Hills  District. 

Rev.   W.  H.  Warren,  East  Dr.  J.  Pearson,  Mt.  Auburn 

District.  District. 

Dr.  G.  K.  Morris,  West  Dis-  Dr.  W.  A.  Robinson,  Coving- 

trict.  ton  District. 


REV.  E.  K.  BELL,  D.U. 

Pastor  of  First  English  Lutheran  Church. 


REV.  GEO.  K.  JIORRIvS,  D.  D. 

Pastor  of  St.  Paul   U.  E.  Church. 


REV.  H.  J.  STEWARD,  D.I). 

Pastor   of  Westminster    Presliyteriaii 
Clivnxh. 


RliW    \V.    A.    COOPICR. 

Pastor   nth    St.  M.  E.  Church    South, 
Covinetiui. 


Memorial  Volume.  69 

Upon  the  Devotional  Committee  devolved  the  duty 
of  arranging,  in  consultation  with  Mr.  Mills,  all  the  re- 
ligious services,  prayer- meetings,  etc.,  and  the  group- 
ing of  churches  throughout  the  city  for  special  union 
services,  the  selection  of  ministers  to  preach  at  different 
points,  and  the  announcement  of  topics  for  prayer  meet- 
ings, both  prior  to  and  during  the  progress  of  the  meet- 
ings held  by  Mr.  Mills. 

His  "Suggestions"  to  this  committee  are  as 
follows : 

TO  the;  devotional  committee. 

Arrange  for  two  forty-minute  prayer  meetings  daily,  ex- 
cept Sunday.  One  for  men,  8:30  to  9:10  or  9  to  9:40  A.  M.,  in 
some  centrally  located  hall,  or  store  or  lecture  room,  on  the 
first  floor  if  possible. 

One  for  women,  forty-five  minutes  before  the  afternoon 
service  in  the  lecture  room  of  the  church  where  I  am  to 
preach,  to  close  five  minutes  before  the  time  for  the  general 
service.  (You  may  put  this  in  charge  of  a  separate  commit- 
tee of  ladies,  selected  by  you,  if  you  judge  best). 

Arrange  your  topics  and  leaders  for  a  week  at  a  time. 

Select  suggestive  topics  with  great  care. 

Do  not  put  as  references  on  the  card  more  than  six 
verses,  better  only  two  or  three. 

Get  your  cards  printed  in  shape  convenient  for  the 
pocket  and  Bible. 

Let  one  of  5'ou  be  at  the  room  at  least  five  minutes  be- 
fore the  commencement  of  every  meeting. 

See  that  onh'  those  seats  are  used  that  will  probably  be 
entirely  filled  ;  and  that  all  attendants  occupy  the  front  seats 
first. 

Be  sure  that  the  organist  and  leader  of  the  singing  will 
be  on  hand  two  or  three  minutes  before  the  opening. 

If  the  appointed  leader  is  not  present  at  just  the  minute, 
announce  a  hymn ;  if  he  does  not  come  by  the  time  you 


70  Mills  Meetings 

have  sung  two  verses,  let  one  of  the  committee,  or  a  substi- 
tute selected  by  you,  take  charge  of  the  meeting  and  proceed 
as  though  the  leader  had  been  originally  appointed  to  that 
place. 

I  will  send  you  lists  of  topics  used  in  other  places  if  you 
will  write  to  me  for  them. 

Arrange  as  many  union  preparatory  evening  services  in 
various  churches  as  may  be  expedient.  For  one  week  at 
least  before  I  come  it  would  be  well  to  have  at  least  four  of 
these  meetings.  Sometimes  such  services  have  been  held 
once  or  twice  a  week,  for  a  month,  to  great  advantage. 

You  are  also  to  act  as  committee  on  overflow  meetings, 
arranging  for  the  conduct  of  such  meetings  as  maj'  be  nec- 
essary in  consultation  with  me,  selecting  both  places  and 
leaders,  etc. 

In  Cincinnati  the  District  Devotional  Committees 
carried  on  a  large  number  of  union  prayer  meetings, 
for  several  weeks  before  the  coming  of  Mr.  Mills  ;  and 
during  the  meetings  in  the  center  of  the  city  and  in 
Music  Hall,  the  Central  Devotional  Committee  arranged 
each  Sunday  a  number  of  preaching  services  in  different 
sections  of  the  city,  conducted  by  ministers  selected  b)' 
the  committee.  Mention  is  made  of  these  services  in 
another  part  of  this  book.  The  ladies'  prayer  meeting, 
held  daily  for  several  weeks  in  the  Ninth  street  Baptist 
Church,  was  in  charge  of  this  committee.  A  sample 
card  of  this  meeting  is  given  under  the  head  of  the  Ad- 
vertisincf  Committee. 


METHODS  AND  ELEMENTS  OF  SUCCESS. 


The  general  facts  which  are  most  apparent  in  regard 
to  the  great  religious  movement  in  Cincinnati  under 
the  leadership  of  Mr.  Mills  are  (i)  the  hearty  coopera- 
tion of  seventy-three  churches  and  their  pastors,  of  many 
different  denominations,  *  both  during  the  period  of 
preparation,  and  while  the  meetings  were  in  progress ; 
(2)  the  harmony  in  the  work  as  between  Mr.  Mills  and 
the  pastors  and  committees ;  (3)  the  greatness  of  the 
multitudes  who  attended  the  services,  filling  to  over- 
flowing, not  only  the  largest  churches,  but  the  great 
Music  Hall,  one  of  the  most  spacious  halls  in  the 
country ;  (4)  the  deep  solemnity  and  entire  absence  of 
excitement  which  characterized  the  meetings ;  (5)  the 
great  number  of  persons  who  signed  the  cards,  and  the 
greater  number  who  rose  for  prayer ;  and  (6)  the  fact 
that  so  many  hundreds  of  these  are  already  publicly 
confessing  Christ,  and  uniting  with  the  churches. 
These  things  are  of  interest  as  bearing  both  upon 
the  causes  and  the  evidences  of  the  success  of 
the  movement.  That  it  has  been  successful,  in 
the  best  sense,  will  probably  not  be  questioned. 
The  churches  have  been  revived,  pastors  have 
been  encouraged,  back-sliding  Christians  have  been  re- 
claimed, thousands  of  persons  outside  the  kingdom  of 
God  have  been  brought  to  express  a  desire  "  to  lead  a 
Christian  Hfe,"  the  attention  of  thousands  more  has 
been  turned  to  the  subject  of  religion,  and  a  deep  im- 

«  Seepage  i,  3,  5.  et  seq. 

7« 


72  Mills  Meetings 

pression  has  been  made  upon  the  entire  city.  The 
object  of  this  chapter  is  not  to  attempt  any  elaborate 
analysis  of  the  movement,  but  simply  to  refer  to  some 
of  the  points  of  interest,  in  regard  to  the  elements  of 
success,  the  methods  employed,  and  the  more  striking 
characteristics  of  the  work. 

UNITY    AND    COOPERATION. 

The  first  fact  mentioned  above,  viz.,  the  spirit  of 
unity  and  cooperation  among  the  pastors  and  churches, 
is  an  important  fact,  which  is  almost  wholly  irrespec- 
tive of  Mr  Mills.  As  already  stated  in  the  opening 
chapter  of  this  book,"'^  it  was  manifest  more  than  three 
months  before  the  proposition  to  secure  an  evangelist 
was  first  mentioned.  This  spirit  of  unity  found  expres- 
sion during  these  three  months,  in  the  memorable 
union  prayer  meetings  and  conferences  of  the  Winter  of 
1 89 1,  which  led  ultimately  to  the  invitation  of  the 
Evangelical  Alliance  to  Mr.  Mills  to  come  to  Cincinnati, 
and  prepared  the  way  for  the  still  more  cordial  coopera- 
tion which  characterized  the  work  ftom  that  time  for- 
ward, to  which  Mr.  Mills,  as  the  leader,  largely  con- 
tributed. This,  undoubtedly,  must  be  regarded  as  one 
of  the  chief  elements  of  success  in  the  work. 

The  Herald  and  Presbyter  of  March  2,  in  an  editorial 
on  "The  Mills  Meetings"  (to  which  we  shall  refer 
again),  says  of  this  : 

"Mr.  Mills,  of  course,  did  not  come  to  Cincinnati  expect- 
ing to  work  unaided.  ...  He  had  the  pledge  of  the 
hearty  support  of  nearly  all  the  leading  churches,  and  came 
at  their  request.  He  came  rather  as  the  general  of  an  army ; 
the  army  does  the  most  of  the  fighting,  but  it  is  necessary  to 

*  See  page  5,  et  seq. 


Memorial  Volume.  73 

have  a  leader  in  a  great  union  effort,  and  he  was  selected  as, 
on  the  whole,  the  best  leader." 

These  facts  are  worthy  of  being  borne  in  mind  not  only 
as  historically  important,  but  because  of  their  bearing 
upon  the  success  of  the  mov^ement,  that  Mr.  Mills  came 
in  response  to  the  invitation  of  the  Evangelical  Alliance  ; 
that  the  pastors  of  the  city  had  been  at  work  unitedly 
for  more  than  a  year  prior  to  his  coming;  that  numerous 
and  strong  committees  of  pastors  and  other  Christian 
men  gave  their  time  and  energies  unreservedly  to  the 
laborious  details  of  preparation  ;  and  that  in  the  work  he 
had  behind  him  constantly,  sustaining  and  supporting 
him  at  every  point,  with  their  prayers  and  their  efforts, 
a  mighty  army  of  nearly  one  hundred  ministers,  seventy- 
three  churches,  large  numbers  of  influential  laymen,  and 
twenty  thousand  church  members,  to  whom  he  proved 
himself  to  be  a  wise,  efficient,  untiring,  and  beloved 
leader. 


THE    POWER    OF    NUMBERS. 

There  was  also,  as  contributing  to  the  grand  re- 
sult, the  power  of  numbers  to  a  high  degree.  Scores 
of  churches  closed  their  doors  at  certain  times,  and 
merged  their  congregations  into  one,  to  swell  the 
throngs  which  pressed  to  the  great  union  services  at 
which  the  evangelist  preached. 

"  Last  Sabbath  (Feb.  28)  was  a  remarkable  day.  Mr. 
Mills  preached  three  times :  in  the  morning  at  the  Bethel, 
in  the  afternoon  at  the  Music  Hall,  and  at  night  at  the  same 
place  to  men  only.  The  daily  papers  estimated  that  the  at- 
tendance atthe.se  services  reached  twenty  thousand  ■^^o'^X^.'''  * 

*  Herald  and  Presbyter,  of  IMarch  2. 


74  Mills  Meetings 

This  record  was  repeated  the  following  Wednesday, 
March  2,  and  again  on  the  closing  Sabbath,  March  6. 
The  attendance  at  the  first  service  in  Music  Hall,  on 
the  evening  of  February  22,  is  described  elsewhere. 
An  attempt  was  made  on  that  evening,  by  expert 
counters,  to  count  the  numbers  who  came.  The  result 
was  as  follows,  the  service  having  been  announced  to 
begin  at  7  145,  and  the  doors  not  to  be  opened  until 
7:15:  At  six  o'clock  (one  hour  and  three-quarters 
before  the  service  began),  17  people  were  waiting  at 
the  door;  from  6:oo  to  6:15,  24  more  came;  from 
6:15  to  6:30,  70  more ;  from  6:30  to  6:45,  158  more; 
from  6 :45  to  7:00,  1,400  more;  from  7:00  to  7:15, 
there  were  4,395  more  (so  that  when  the  doors  were 
opened,  at  7:15,  there  were  6,064  people  waiting  for 
admission)  ;  from  7:15  to  7:30,  there  were  4,400  more 
came,  and  from  7:30  to  7:45,  about  2,000  more;  mak- 
ing in  all,  12,464  people  who  came,  up  to  the  minute 
for  the  service  to  begin.  It  would  probably  be  quite 
safe  to  say  (although  no  further  attempt  to  count  was 
made)  that  1,600  others  came  after  that  time,  making 
a  grand  total  of  14,000,  Music  Hall  can  be  made  to 
seat  5,000,  and  the  platform  1,000  more,  and  probably 
2,000  more  found  standing  room  in  the  crowded  aisles 
and  around  the  galleries  and  the  doors.  Not  more 
than  8,000  people,  it  is  estimated,  can  be  packed  into 
Music  Hall,  so  that  not  less  than  6,000  must  have 
been  turned  away  from  the  doors  on  that  evening. 

The  vast  audiences  at  all  the  services  undoubtedly, 
of  itself,  produced  a  deep  impression  upon  the  minds 
of  multitudes  of  people,  as  indicated  in  a  remark  made 
to  the  writer  the  next  day,  by  an  old  resident  of  the 
city:    "I  never  expected  to  see  the  day  in  Cincinnati 


Memorial  Volume.  J75 

when  men  would  crowd  and  jostle  and  almost  trample 
over  each  other,  in  their  eagerness  to  hear  the  gospel 
preached." 

ABSENCE    OF    EXCITEMENT. 

Another  marked  feature  of  the  work,  the  more  no- 
ticeable when  considered  in  connection  with  the  vast 
size  of  the  audiences,  was  the  fourth  mentioned  above, 
viz.,  the  deep  solemnity  and  utter  absence  of  any  ex- 
citement which  characterized  the  meetings.  Mr,  Mills 
rarely  appeals  to  the  emotional  faculties,  and  even 
when  he  does,  a  silent  tear  is  the  only  outward  mani- 
festation of  the  feelings  of  the  listener.  His  sermons 
are  addressed  for  the  most  part  to  the  reason  and  the 
conscience,  and  hence  the  effect  is  to  produce  the  most 
profound  silence  and  seriousness.  A  writer,  referring 
to  this,  says  :  "  Many  faces  bore  testimony  to  the  pow- 
er of  the  Spirit's  work.  There  was  such  quiet  atten- 
tion that  you  could  almost  hear  a  pin  drop  during  the 
sermon."  Mr.  Mills  called  attention  to  this  in  a  most 
convincing  v/ay,  at  the  great  meeting  for  "  men  only  " 
on  Sabbath  evening,  February  28,  when  nearly  five 
thousand  men  were  present  in  the  Music  Hall,  to 
nearly  all  of  whom  would  be  suggested  the  scenes  of 
wild  excitement  which  they  had  witnessed  in  this  same 
hall,  at  the  great  political  conventions  which  had  been 
held  there,  or  the  thunders  of  applause  which  had  rung 
through  the  spacious  building  during  the  famous  mu- 
sical festivals.  "Some  people,"  said  Mr.  Mills  in  the 
midst  of  his  sermon,  "profess  to  object  to  revivals, 
because,  they  say,  people  are  laboring  under  undue  ex- 
citement. I  call  you  to  bear  witness  to  the  absence  of 
anything  like  excitement  here.      I  do  not  believe  that 


j6  Mills  Meetings 

any  one  of  you  ever  saw  so  many  thousands  of  men  as- 
sembled together  in  one  place  for  any  purpose  what- 
ever, where  there  was  less  excitement  than  there  is 
here  to-night.  There  is  not  a  trace  of  it."  And  then, 
pausing  a  moment  in  the  silence  that  rested  upon  the 
vast  throng,  he  added,  ' '  I  think,  if  a  had  a  clock  here, 
and  should  hold  it  up,  you  could  hear  it  tick  in  every 
part  of  this  great  hall."  At  the  after-meetings,  and 
inquiry  meetings,  where  the  harvests  were  gathered, 
there  was,  if  possible,  even  less  of  the  emotional  ele- 
ment. In  giving  an  opportunity  to  rise  for  prayer,  no 
impassioned  appeals  were  made.  A  few  quiet  words, 
a  few  moments  of  silent  or  audible  prayer,  two  or 
three  verses  of  a  familiar  hymn  softly  sung,  and  the 
silent  rising  for  an  instant  of  dozens  or  of  scores  of 
persons  desiring  an  interest  in  Christ,  brief  words  of 
testimony,  generally  a  single  sentence — this  was  all. 
Speaking  of  one  of  the  immense  meetings  in  Music 
Hall,  a  daily  newspaper  said  :  "  All  the  standing  room 
was  taken.  The  silence  and  solemnity  advertised  the 
sacredness  all  felt  was  attached  to  the  occasion." 

CAREFULLY  PLANNED  WORK. 

Another  characteristic  of  the  entire  work  was  the 
wisdom  and  care  with  which  it  was  systematized 
throughout,  and  the  practical  sense  and  good  judgment 
displayed  in  every  part  of  it.  Nothing  was  done  at 
random.  This  was  very  well  stated  in  the  article  already 
referred  to : 

"  The  work  is  carefully  planned  ;  mistakes  are  avoided 
as  far  as  possible;  every  effort  is  made  to  induce 
people  to  attend  the  meetings,  but  the  careful  preparation 
and  management  are  such  as  would  lead  an  irreligious  man  to 


Memorial  Volume.  tj 

have  confidence  in  the  leader  and  the  churches.  Instead  of 
working  at  haphazard,  he  sees  that  they  are  in  earnest,  that 
the  methods  are  those  of  common  sense  men  who  believe 
what  they  preach,  and  think  souls  worth  working  for  as  care- 
fully as  a  business  man  works  for  prosperity.  Mr.  Mills 
preaches  the  gospel  in  his  own  way,  of  course,  but  his  way 
is  very  much  like  that  af  most  other  good  preachers.  There 
is  nothing  at  all  sensational.  He  holds  the  attention,  he  is 
an  excellent  preacher,  but  he  depends  on  the  gospel,  properly 
presented,  to  interest  and  win  his  hearers." 

THE    CARD    SYSTEM. 

There  are  three  features  which  have  been  conspicu- 
ous in  the  movement,  all  of  which  may  be  said  to  be 
peculiar  to  Mr.  Mills,  and  are  worthy  of  special  notice. 

The  first  of  these  is  the  "card  system  "  which  he 
uses,  and  by  which  he  not  only  secures  a  definite  ex- 
pression, from  those  interested,  of  a  desire  to  lead  a 
Christian  life,  but  succeeds  in  the  exceedingly  impor- 
tant aim  of  directing  the  inquirer  to  the  church  of  his 
preference,  and  of  bringing  him  into  communication 
with  the  pastor  of  the  church.  The  Herald  and  Presbyter 
describes  this  system  very  clearly  thus : 

"  He  adapts  himself  to  circumstances,  and  has  few 
methods  peculiar  to  himself — few  that  are  not  employed  by 
others.  The  exception  most  worthy  of  note,  which  may  per- 
haps be  called  his  own,  and  which  shapes  his  entire  method, 
is  that  of  obtaining  signatures  to  cards  of  desire  for  a  Chris- 
tian life.  After  the  sermon,  after  the  usual  expression  by 
rising  as  a  request  for  prayer,  the  ushers  obtain  signatures  to 
cards,  on  which  the  signers  state  that  they  desire  to  lead  a 
Christian  life,  and  give  their  names  and  addresses  (street  and 
number),  and  the  name  of  the  pastor  each  prefers  to  see,  or 
the  church  he  attends  or  prefers  to  attend.  After  the  service 
these  cards  are  distributed  to  the  pastors  in  accordance  with 


78  Mills  Meetings 

the  preferences  expressed.  No  one  takes  these  cards  as  evi. 
dences  of  conversion,  but  they  are  the  first  step,  and  the  pas- 
tor is  expected  to  see  these  persons  and  labor  with  them  as 
with  other  inquirers.  They  are  usually  found  in  the  general 
inquiry  meeting.  Thousands  of  these  cards  have  been 
signed  b}'  men  and  women.  One  church  has  already  re- 
ceived over  a  hundred  persons  into  its  membership,  as  the 
result  of  work  done  among  the  signers.  Of  course,  the  most 
of  the  signers  at  the  j-oung  people's  meetings  are  Sunda}-- 
school  scholars,  and  the  signatures  from  children  can  be  pro- 
cured much  more  easily  than  from  adults,  and  a  smaller  pro- 
portion are  tlioroughl3'-  in  earnest.  But  thousands  of  signa- 
tures have  been  obtained  from  adults,  many  of  them  at  men's 
meetings  ;  and  when  a  man  signs  such  a  card  the  way  is 
opened  for  the  pastor  to  visit  him." 

The  following  is  a  fac  simile  of  this  card  which  has 
been  used  in  all  the  meetings  : 


«^t^t^t^t^'^<^*^t^«^t^«^t^«^t^'^«^'^t^«^ 


Cincinnati ^....^ i8g2. 

I  desire  henceforth  to  lead  a  Christian  life. 

Name  „ _ _ 

Residence 

Church  or  1=1  . 

Pasto7-  preferred  Q  _ 


(^(C?t!^f^(^(^t^(^(^(^t'^i^^(^cgS'(^(^(^(^»^(^ 


These  cards  after  each  service  were  all  put  into  the 
hands  of  Mr.    William    Mendenhall,*    who    had    sole 
■■•"See  page  29. 


KKV.  W.   H.  WAKREN. 

I'astnr  cif  Central    C'lUiLrreKatirmnl    Church. 


RIvV.   HIC.H    \V.   (ilLCHRIST. 

r.istnr  nf    [•irst    l'r;-sl)vieri;in  Churt  h. 


^      i^ 


m 


\<ny.   H.   M.  CURTIS. 

l'a<Ior  of  .\li    .\uliiini   I'n-sliyleriaii  Church. 


RKV.  J.  M.  a.\J)i;ks()X. 

Ta-sttn-  (if  North  I'rohy trrian  (  liun  h 


Memorial  Volume.  79 

eharge  of  them  for  Mr.  Mills,  and  by  whom  they  were 
at  once  recorded  in  a  book,  and  the  next  day  distrib- 
uted to  the  pastors  of  the  respective  churches.  The 
total  number  of  cards  signed  up  to  the  close  of  the  last 
service,  March  6th,  was  about  eight  thousand.  Mr. 
Mendenhall's  official  report  will  be  found  near  the  end 
of  this  book.  Those  cards  which  contained  no  prefer- 
ence of  any  pastor  or  church  were  placed  in  the  hands 
of  Rev.  Hugh  W.  Gilchrist,  who  had  charge  of  a  band 
of  Christian  workers  constantly  engaged  in  visiting  the 
persons  whose  names  were  on  the  cards,  and  ascertain- 
ing, if  possible,  their  preferences,  and  who  then  dis- 
tributed them  accordingly.  A  portion  of  the  cards 
were  signed  by  persons  who  were  members  of  churches, 
but  had  been  unfaithful,  and  who  expressed  in  this  way 
their  desire  to  re-consecrate  themselves  to  Christ. 
Most  of  them,  however,  were  signed  by  persons  who 
had  never  before  confessed  Christ.  Doubtless  many 
others  rose  for  prayer  at  the  meetings,  who  did  not 
sign  the  cards,  so  that  in  the  tioo  ways  (by  rising,  and 
by  signing  the  cards)  the  total  number  of  persons  ex- 
pressing a  desire  to  become  Christians  was,  during  the 
forty-five  days  of  the  services,  probably  not  less  than 
TEN  THOUSAND — an  average  of  more  than  tzvo  Jnuidred 
every  day.  The  average  number  of  cards  actually 
signed  was  more  than  07ie  hundred  and  fifty  pey  day.  It 
is  said  that  there  was  not  a  single  service  during  the 
entire  six  weeks,  where  the  opportunity  was  given,  at 
which  some  persons  did  not  rise  for  prayer,  and  in 
some  instances  the  inquirers  were  numbered  by  hun- 
dreds. 


8o  Mills  Meetings 

MATHEMATICAL    DEMONSTRATION. 

The  second  peculiar  feature  referred  to  was  Mr. 
Mills'  method,  adopted  on  several  occasions,  of  demon- 
strating before  the  audience,  in  the  midst  of  his  ser- 
mon, by  an  actual  count,  the  truth  of  certain  important 
statements.  For  instance  at  the  great  meeting  for 
"men  only,"  before  referred  to,  he  was  speaking  of  the 
two  great  opportunities  which  came  to  men  for  enter- 
ing the  Kingdom  of  God  ;  first,  in  their  you^/i,  enforced 
by  the  text,  "Those  who  seek  me  r^r/y  shall  find  me;" 
and,  secondly,  in  a  time  of  revival.  He  said:  "Some 
people  sjy  that  a  revival  season  is  not  a  good  time  to 
come  to  Christ.  Far  from  this  being  true,  I  say  that 
for  those  who  have  grown  to  manhood  it  is  almost  the 
only  time.  I  solemnly  declare,  from  my  observation, 
that  to  you  who  are  metiy  a  time  of  revival,  a  revival 
season  such  as  this,  is  almost  your  only  chance  to  get  into 
the  Kingdom.  If  you  are  not  saved  during  a  revival, 
there  is  an  awful  risk  that  you  will  never  be  saved,  and 
I  am  going  to  prove  it.  I  want  to  ask  every  man  in  this 
great  audience  who  is  a  professing  Christian,  who  was 
converted  after  he  was  tzventy-five  years  old,  and  who 
was  not  converted  during  a  time  of  revival,  to  rise  to 
his  feet,  and  remain  standing  until  I  count."  In  the 
entire  audience  of  several  thousand  men,  just  twenty 
men  stood  up.  "Just  twenty,"  said  Mr.  Mills.  "It 
is  an  awfully  slender  chance,  my  brothers."  He  then 
said:  "  More  than  this,  I  affirm  that  the  great  majority 
of  men  who  are  converted  at  all,  at  any  period  of  life, 
are  converted  in  seasons  of  revival.  Now  I  want  all 
the  men  in  this  house  to-night,  who  are  members  of 
the  church,  to  rise,"     Fully  two  thousand  men  arose. 


Memorial  Volume.  8i 

Now,  I  want  all  of  these  two  thousand  Christian  men 
who  were  converted  and  came  into  the  church  in  a 
season  of  revival  to  sit  down ;  and  all  of  you  who  came 
into  the  church  when  there  was  7io  special  revival  to  re- 
main standing^  All  sat  down  except  two  hundred. 
"  Here,"  said  Mr.  Mills,  "is  the  proof;  of  the  two  thou- 
sand Christian  men  in  this  house,  eighteen  hundred 
were  converted  in  times  of  revival,  and  only  two  hun- 
dred when  there  was  no  revival." 

At  the  immense  general  meeting  on  Wednesday 
night,  March,  2,  when  more  than  five  thousand  were 
present,  Mr.  Mills,  in  speaking  of  youth  as  the  best 
opportunity  to  come  to  Christ,  asked  all  present  who 
had  been  converted  when  under  twenty  years  of  age  to 
rise.  About  two-thirds  of  the  audience,  (more  than 
three  thousand )  arose.  Then  all  who  had  been  con- 
verted between  twenty  and  thirty,  and  about  three  hun- 
dred arose.  All  converted  between  thirty  and  forty, 
about  fifty  arose.  All  converted  between  fifty  and  sixty 
years,  and  ten  arose.  All  who  had  been  converted 
when  pact  sixty  years,  and  only  five  arose.  The  dem- 
onstration was  complete  and  convincing. 

THE    MID-WEEK    SABBATH, 

The  third  peculiar  feature  of  Mr.  Mills'  plan  of 
work  is  the  observance  of  a  special  day  of  prayer  and 
service  in  the  middle  of  the  week,  called  the  "  Mid- 
week Sabbath,"  on  which  three  great  mass  meetings 
are  held,  and  on  which  the  request  is  made  for  a  gen- 
eral closing  of  business  houses.  This  day  was  observed 
in  the  outlying  districts  during  the  time  of  the  district 
services,  and  the  observance  was  very  general.  On 
Walnut  Hills  one  hundred  and  fifty  stores  and   offices 


82  Mills  Meetings 

were  closed ;  in  Covington,  about  two  hundred,  includ- 
ing six  saloons  ;  and  on  Mt.  Auburn,  nearly  all.  In  the 
city  the  matter  was  placed  in  the  charge  of  a  special 
committee,*  who  were  assisted  by  more  than  sixty 
pastors  and  laymen. 

The  proposition  was  at  first  a  startling  one.  Under 
almost  any  other  circumstances  it  would  have  seemed 
an  utterly  impossible  thing  to  attempt  to  secure  the 
closing  up  of  the  great  business  houses  and  manufac- 
turing establishments  of  Cincinnati,  in  the  midst  of  the 
week,  out  of  respect  for  a  religious  service.  But  the 
Spirit  went  before  in  a  wonderful  manner,  and  this 
thing  was  accomplished.  And  a  wonderful  day  it 
was — one  of  the  most  remarkable  days  in  the  history  of 
the  city.  A  description  of  the  day  will  be  found  in  the 
account  of  the  Music  Hall  meetings. 

Wednesday,  March  2,  was  the  day  selected.  About 
a  week  before,  the  members  of  the  special  committee, 
previous  to  any  public  announcement,  called  upon  as 
many  as  they  could  visit,  in  their  limited  time,  of  the 
great  firms  in  different  lines  of  business,  and  secured 
their  signatures  to  the  agreement  to  close  their  places 
of  business  on  the  day  named.  These  signatures  were 
promptly  and  cordially  given,  \x\\\S\.  about  fifty  of  the 
largest  wholesale  and  retail  stores  in  the  city  were 
pledged  to  observe  the  day.  Then  committees  of  two 
or  more,  to  the  number  of  sixty  ministers  and  laymen, 
volunteered  to  canvass  the  different  streets,  and  in  a 
{q.w  hours  hundreds  more  had  sign.d  the  agreement. 
A  great  many  others  sent  in  their  signatures  volun- 
tarily, either  through  their  pastors  or  directly,  and 
before  the -close  of  the  preceding  week  it  was  evident 

«  See  page  45. 


Memorial  Volume.  83 

that  the  closing  would  be  very  general.      A  newspaper 
printed  before  the  day  said  : 

"  Wednesday  of  this  week,  March  2,  will  be  a  day  of 
special  interest.  Hundreds  of  business  houses  will  close 
from  9  .-30  to  12,  from  3  to  5,  and  at  7  o'clock  in  the 
evening.  From  many  of  these  establishments  the  pro- 
prietors and  employes  will  march  to  the  special  services. 
During-  the  early  da3's  of  this  week  it  seemed  as  if  nearly 
every  prominent  business  house  in  the  city  had  in  its  front 
windows  the  placard  announcing  its  closure  on  the  Wednes- 
day following.  The  expression  was  full  of  encouragement, 
amounting  to  a  token  of  respect  for  God  and  a  willingness 
that  He  should  in  some  way  have  room  in  the  business  of  the 
people." 

When  the  day  came  the  scene  was  a  marvelous  one. 
An  almost  Sabbath  stillness  rested  upon  the  great 
city.  The  streets  were  well  nigh  deserted.  Every- 
where stores,  offices,  factories,  etc. ,  were  closed,  and 
large  cards  on  the  doors  and  in  the  windows  read, 
"Closed,  on  account  of  the  special  day  of  the  Mills' 
meeting."  It  is  impossible  to  give  the  exact  number 
of  firms  which  closed  up  their  business  on  this  remark- 
able day,  as  many  closed  without  reporting,  but  the 
number  is  generally  estimated  at  about  three  tJwiisand, 
including  all  lines  of  business.  Among  them  were  not 
only  Protestant  Christians,  but  large  establishments 
owned  by  Catholics,  Israelites,  and  professed  unbe- 
lievers, out  of  respect  for  the  religious  and  moral  senti- 
ment of  the  city.  His  Honor  John  B.  Mosby,  mayor 
of  the  city,  addressed  a  letter  to  Dr.  McKibbin  and 
others,  commending  the  movement,  and  this  singular 
feature  of  the  work  has  left  a  deep  and  lasting  impres- 
sion upon  the  whole  community. 


84  Mills  Meetings 

Another  chapter  in  this  book  will  treat  of  results 
and  impressions.  Our  purpose  in  this  chapter  has  been 
to  mention  some  of  the  most  striking  characteristics  of 
the  work.  High  above  all  these  external  features, 
however,  were  at  all  times  and  in  the  entire  movement 
the  mighty  power  of  the  gospel,  ' '  the  truth  as  it  is  in 
Jesus,"  and  the  presence  and  effectual  working  of  the 
Holy  Spirit  in  the  hearts  of  men,  without  which  all 
plans  and  devices  must  have  failed,  but  ivitli  which  the 
efforts  of  the  evangelist  and  God's  people  have  achieved 
a  glorious  success. 


THE  EVANGELICAL  ALLIANCE  TO  THE 
CHURCHES. 

On  Tuesday  evening  January  19,  1892  (two  daj^s 
before  the  first  service  by  Mr.  Mills  was  held  on 
Walnut  Hills),  the  Evangelical  Alliance  of  Cincinnati, 
representing  all  the  evangelical  churches  of  the  city, 
irrespective  of  the  Mills  organization,  held  a  special 
meeting  in  the  Second  Presbyterian  Church,  and 
adopted  the  following  circular  letter,  addressed  to  all 
the  churches  of  the  city  : 

LETTER    FROM    THE    EVANGELICAL    ALLIANCE. 

The  Evangelical  Alliance  of  Cincinnati,  to  all  the 
churches  of  our  city: 

A  general  movement  is  in  progress  to  secure  a 
genuine  revival  of  religion  that  shall  reach  our  unsaved 
population  and  give  them  such  help  and  encourage- 
ment as  they  may  need  in  breaking  away  from  sin  and 
in  commencing  a  religious  life.  That  such  a  work  of 
God  is  greatly  needed,  no  one  familiar  with  the  spiritual 
conditions  of  our  churches  and  the  current  thought  and 
feeling  as  to  religion  will  deny.  Immorality  of  every 
kind  prevails  am.ong  us  to  such  an  extent  as  to  awaken 
alarm  in  the  minds  of  thoughtful  Christians,  and  drive 
them  to  the  Throne  for  help.  "It  is  time  for  thee, 
Lord,  to  work,  for  they  make  void  Thy  law." 

Union  revival  services  will  be  conducted  by  Rev.  B. 

Fay  Mills,  son  of  Rev.  Dr.  Thornton  A.  Mills,  formerly 

of  this  city.      For  several  years  past  Mr.  Mills  has  been 

engaged  in  evangelistic  work,  and  the  most  remarkable 

8s 


B6  Mills  Meetings 

success  has  attended  his  labors.  He  possesses  great 
organizing  and  executive  abiHty.  He  plans  and  con- 
trols every  department  of  the  work.  In  his  preaching 
headdresses  the  judgment  and  conscience  of  his  hearers, 
rather  than  their  emotions,  and  his  appeals  are  search- 
ing and  convincing.  He  is  a  man  of  deep  religious 
experience,  of  great  spiritual  power,  of  practical  knowl- 
edge of  human  nature,  and  in  all  his  work  relies  upon 
the  presence  and  cooperation  of  the  Holy  Spirit. 

It  is  essential  to  the  highest  success  in  this  move- 
ment that  the  deepest  interest  in  it  should  be  cherished 
by  Christians  of  all  denominations.  It  is  not  narrow 
nor  sectarian,  but  broad  and  catholic.  It  is  a  common 
work  in  which  the  followers  of  Jesus  may  unite  in  efforts 
to  secure  the  salvation  of  their  fellow-men. 

It  must  be  carried  forward  by  faith  and  prayer  and 
cooperation.  In  answer  to  prayer  God  will  do  for  His 
people  what  He  would  not  do  if  they  did  not  pray.  In 
the  closet,  at  the  family  altar,  in  private  and  in  public, 
our  petitions  should  be  offered  to  God  in  behalf  of  this 
work  and  its  workers.  Fervent  and  effectual  prayer 
for  the  unsaved  of  this  city  and  vicinity  should  be  sent 
to  Heaven  from  every  home.  While  the  work  is  carried 
on  in  public,  it  should  be  sustained  by  loyal  and  believ- 
ing souls  in  their  homes.  They  should  pray  earnestly 
for  the  baptism  of  the  Holy  Ghost  upon  all  our  public 
gatherings.  This  is  God's  work,  and  His  people  must 
have  faith  in  it,  faith  in  the  preaching  of  the  Gospel, 
in  its  adaptations  to  the  wants  of  the  soul,  and  in  the 
power  of  the  Divine  Spirit  to  convict,  to  quicken  and 
save. 

These  meetings  should  have  the  right  of  way  in  our 
relisfious  services  durintr  their  continuance.      It  is  a  set 


Memorial  Volume.  87 

time  for  God.  It  is  a  crisis  in  the  saving  of  souls. 
The  preparatory  work  has  been  done.  The  interest  of 
the  people  is  awakened,  crowds  will  attend,  and  Chris- 
tians will  be  there  in  force  to  give  strength  to  the 
movement  and  encouragement  to  the  workers.  Every 
Christian  is  urged  to  subordinate  other  engagements  to 
this.  Such  an  opportunity  to  work  for  Christ  may 
never  come  to  us  again  in  our  day.  Let  us  give  to  this 
movement  the  influence  of  our  presence,  our  enthusi- 
asm, our  prayers,  our  energies  and  our  means,  and  ex- 
pect the  quickening  of  believers  and  a  great  ingathering 
of  souls. 

We  deem  it  of  great  importance  that  the  opening 
meetings  on  Walnut  Hills,  commencing  January  21, 
be  largely  attended.  They  will  then  command  general 
attention.  From  all  parts  of  the  city  should  rally  the 
sacramental  hosts  of  God's  elect  to  participate  in  these 
services.  May  God  grant  us  a  baptism  of  the  Holy 
Spirit  to  prepare  us  to  lead  sinners  to  Christ  and  believ- 
ers to  lives  of  holiness  and  usefulness. 

E.  K.  Bell,  D.  McKinney, 

R.  S.  Rust,  E.  A.  Ince, 

W.  H.  Warren,  H.  M.  Curtis, 

C.  J.  Tannar,  Comjnittee. 


REV.  B.  FAY  MILLS, 

THE   EVANGELIST. 

Rev.  B.  Fay  Mills  was  born  in  Rahway,  New  Jer- 
sey, in  1857,  ^"*^  hence  is  now  in  the  thirty-fifth  year 
of  his  age. 

His  father,  Rev.  Thornton  A.  Mills,  D.  D.,  a  Pres- 
byterian minister  of  ability  and  high  standing,  was  at 
one  time  pastor  of  the  Third  Presbyterian  Church  cf 
Cincinnati,  and  in  i860  was  elected  Moderator  of  the 
Presbyterian  General  Assembly  [N.  S.]  which  met  in 
Pittsburgh,  Pa.  His  mother  was  Miss  Anna  C.  Mills, 
of  Morristown,  N.  J.,  who  was  married  to  the  Rev. 
Samuel  G.  Whittlesay,  v/ith  whom  she  went  as  a  mis- 
sionary to  Ceylon  Mr.  Whittlesay  died  in  India,  and 
his  wife  returned  to  this  country,  where,  after  several 
years  of  widowhood,  she  was  married  to  Mr.  Mills' 
father  in  1854.  Mr.  Mills  has  one-half-brother.  Rev. 
Charles  M.  Whittlesay,  and  one  full  brother.  Rev. 
Thornton  A.  Mills,  both  of  whom  are  efficient  minis- 
ters of  Christ,  and  have  large  success  in  pastoral 
service. 

Mr.  Mills,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  commenced 
his  course  of  study  at  Hamilton  College,  but  his  col- 
lege course  was  somewhat  interrupted,  and  it  was  at 
this  time  that  he  spent  a  year  in  business  in  San  Fran- 
cisco. 

Returning  from  the  Pacific  coast,  he  resumed  his 
collegiate  studies ;  was  for  a  time  a  student  in 
Wooster  University,  Ohio,  and  was  the  first  graduate 
from  Lake  Forest  University,  Illinois,  in  1879. 


B.    FAY    MILLS. 


Memorial  Volume.  89 

He  was  licensed  to  preach  in  connection  with  the 
Congregational  Church  in  1877,  when  nineteen  years  of 
age,  and  was  ordained  in  Cannon  Falls,  Minn.,  Feb. 
18,  1878. 

Mr.  Mills  is  a  Presbyterian  minister  in  full  standing, 
being  a  member  of  the  Presbytery  of  Newton,  New 
Jersey,  although  his  work  is  entirely  undenominational. 
For  about  two  years  he  was  a  missionary  in  the  Black 
Hills  of  Dakota.  He  was  afterwards  called  to  New 
England,  where  he  was  pastor  of  the  West  Parish  Con- 
gregational Church,  Rutland,  Vermont,  a  church  of 
about  three  hundred  and  fifty  members.  He  found  the 
congregation  rent  by  dissensions,  but,  through  the 
grace  of  God,  he  was  enabled  to  heal  them.  His  suc- 
cess, indeed,  was  so  marked  that  during  the  first  year 
of  his  pastoratv:;  he  received  many  invitations  from 
other  places  to  conduct  special  services,  which  he  was 
compelled  to  decline.  Finally,  after  repeated  solicita- 
tiong,  he  consented  to  go  for  a  few  days  to  Middlebury, 
Vt.  He  was  originally  invited  by  but  one  church,  but, 
as  the  meeting  progressed,  all  the  churches  in  the 
town,  including  the  Episcopalians,  became  in- 
terested, and  heartily  cooperated  in  the  work,  so  that 
he  remained  there  about  two  weeks.  His  success 
among  the  townspeople  was  great,  but  among  the 
students  it  was  remarkable,  all  the  college  students 
being  brought  into  the  Kingdom  except  five.  He  re- 
turned home  and  asked  his  people  to  reler.se  him,  in 
order  that  he  might  engage  in  the  wider  work  which 
was  pressing  upon  him.  Unwilling  to  part  with  their 
pastor,  they  refused  his  request.  He  urged  the  matter, 
and  the  church  at  length  compromised  by  giving  a  three 
months'  leave    of    absence.      He    immediately   availed 


90  Mills  Meetings 

himself  of  the  opportunity  to  accept  some  of  the  re- 
quests which,  to  the  number  of  about  forty,  had  been 
made  for  his  services.  In  these  three  months  he  was 
instrumental  in  leading  hundreds  to  Christ.  Seeing  the 
manifest  blessings  of  God  which  rested  upon  him  in 
these  special  services,  the  Rutland  church  at  last  sor- 
rowfully consented  to  a  dissolution  of  the  pastoral 
relation.  Since  then  he  has  given  himself  wholly  to 
this  kind  of  work,  for  which  he  is  so  peculiarly  fitted, 
and  in  which  he  has  achieved  such  glorious  success, 
preaching  to  many  thousands  of  people  thoughout  the 
country,  chiefly  in  the  East. 

Mr.  Mills  has  been  in  the  ministry  fourteen  years, 
and  in  evangelistic  work  five  years.  He  was  a  pastor 
for  nine  years,  and  this  fact  has  undoubtedly  had  much 
to  do  with  his  remarkable  success  in  his  methods  of 
conducting  union  church  movements.  He  looks  at 
everything  from  a  pastor's  standpoint,  maintains  rela- 
tions of  closest  sympathy  with  the  pastors,  and  always 
seeks  their  hearty  cooperation  in  his  work. 

The  first  year  of  his  evangelistic  work  he  intended 
to  spend  in  some  of  the  smaller  towns,  but  the  pressure 
from  the  larger  fields  forced  him  away  from  them,  and 
during  the  first  year  he  visited  some  of  the  most  influ- 
ential cities  of  the  United  States,  including  Montclair 
and  Morristown  in  New  Jersey,  Andover  and  New- 
buryport  in  Massachusetts,  Brooklyn  and  New  York 
City,  and  Wilmington,  Delaware. 

The  second  year  he  visited  Charlestown,  Worcester, 
Lowell,  Fall  River,  and  Chelsea  in  Massachusetts;  Provi- 
dence, Indianapolis,  and  Philadelphia.  In  the  latter  city 
the  results  were  such  that  he  received  invitations  to  con- 
duct similar  meetings  from  a  large  proportion  of  the 


Memorial  Volume.  91 

churches  in  that  city,  and  arranged  combinations  of 
other  churches  for  the  next  season,  so  that  he  has  now 
visited  Philadelphia  five  times,  and  preached  in  between 
fifty  and  sixty  churches  there,  of  all  denominations. 

Besides  this  work  in  Philadelphia,  the  next  season 
he  visited  Jersey  City  (Heights),  N.  J.,  Springfield, 
and  Holyoke,  Mass.,  Stamford,  Conn.,  Ithaca,  N.  Y., 
and  Boston,  Mass.,  where  he  labored  at  this  time  in  the 
very  conservative  churches  in  the  Roxbury  district. 

The  fourth  year  he  went  back  to  Boston,  where 
there  was  a  large  combination  of  the  most  influential 
churches  in  the  residence  portion  of  the  city ;  and  from 
there,  for  the  second  time  to  New  York  City ;  thence 
to  Youngstown,  O.  ;  thence  to  Jersey  City  and  to 
New  Brunswick,  N.  J.  ;  thence,  for  his  first  visit  to 
Illinois,  to  Decatur  and  Jacksonville  ;^  and  thence  back 
to  Newark,  N.  J.,  Bridgeport,  Conn.,  and  Bath,  Maine. 
He  then  went  to  the  great  Christian  Endeavor  Con- 
vention in  St.  Louis,  and  afterwards  to  Springfield,  111. 

Last  year  he  visited  St.  Johnsbury,  Vt. ,  Oak  Park, 
Elgin,  and  Evanston,  111.,  Oberlin,  O.,  Plainfield,  N. 
J.,  Syracuse  and  Hudson,  N.  Y.,  Beloit  and  Jancsville, 
Wis.,  and  Cleveland,  O. 

It  was  in  Cleveland  that  the  *  plan  was  first  devised 
of  having  preliminary  meetings,  conducted  by  the 
evangelist  in  different  districts  of  the  city,  culminating 
in  a  general  movement  for  the  entire  community  in  a 
large  central  tabernacle.  It  was  the  experience  gained 
in  pursuing  this  plan,  which  was  an  unprecedented 
success,  that  led  to  the  more  complete  organization  in 
a  more  extensive  field,  in  Cincinnati  and  Covington. 
Over  seventy-five  hundred  people  in  Cleveland  signed 

*  See  page  2  of  this  book,  "Plan  of  Organization." 


92  Mills  Mketings 

the  cards  expressing  the  intention  of  beginning  or 
renewing  the  Christian  life.  There  were  forty-five 
churches  engaged  in  this  Cleveland  work,  of  which 
one  church  alone  has  received  nearly  five  hundred 
members. 

This  last  season  Mr.  Mills  visited  Terre  Haute, 
Ind.,  St.  Joseph,  Mo.,  Watertown  and  Utica,  N.  Y., 
Rockford  and  Chicago,  111. ,  from  which  city  he  has  re- 
ceived very  pressing  invitations  to  return,  and  Eliza- 
beth, N.  J.  From  Elizabeth,  where  the  meetings 
closed  January  15,  1892,  Mr.  Mills  came  to  Cincinnati, 
beginning  here  on  the  evening  of  January  21st. 

He  goes  from  here  to  the  Pacific  coast,  in  which 
locality,  and  at  Salt  Lake  City,  and.  in  some  of  the 
Rocky  Mountain  towns,  he  will  be  engaged  until  next 
November.  He  makes  his  engagements  from  eight 
months  to  a  year  in  advance,  and  is  always  over- 
whelmed with  invitations. 

Mr.  Mills'  present  home  is  at  Pawtuxet,  R.  I.,  which 
is  a  suburb  of  Providence.  It  is  an  old-fashioned 
house,  located  on  Narragansett  Bay,  with  one  of  the 
most  beautiful  views  on  earth  from  the  front  piazza. 
He  was  married  in  Minneapolis  in  1879,  ^o  Miss  Mary 
R.  Hill,  daughter  of  the  late  Hon.  Henry  Hill,  of 
Minnesota.  They  have  five  children — three  boys  and 
two  girls — who  are  instructed  entirely  by  their  mother 
in  their  retired  home.  The  name  of  Mr.  Mills'  home 
is  "Bethany,"  and  in  the  hallway  is  the  inscription, 
"  He  led  them  out  as  far  as  to  Bethany,  and  blessed 
them,  .  .  .  and  they  returned  to  Jerusalem  with 
great  joy. " 

In  his  evangelistic  work  Mr.  Mills  has  had  asso- 
ciated with  him  a  number  of  prominent  singers,  who 


Memorial  Volume.  93 

have  assisted  him  in  this  work  to  a  greater  or  less  ex- 
tent. Among  these  are  Messrs.  Towner,  Stebbins, 
Florentine,  Burke,  Coon,  and  others.  Mr.  Sankey  has 
also  assisted  him  on  more  than  one  occasion.  For 
the  past  three  and  a  half  years  he  has  had  associated 
with  him  Mr.  Lawrence  B.  Greenwood,  of  whom  men- 
tion is  made  hereafter,  and  who  is  generally  considered 
the  most  effective  singer  of  evangelistic  music  now 
engaged  in  the  work. 

Mr.  Mills  is  the  author  of  a  little  book,  "Power 
from  on  High,"  which  was  originally  delivered  as  an 
address,  before  the  Ninth  International  Christian  En- 
deavor Society  Convention,  in  St.  Louis,  which  is 
having  a  circulation  of  thousands.  He  has  also  made 
a  compilation  of  extracts  from  the  writings  of  Rev.  F. 
B.  Meyer,  the  first  edition  of  which  is  now  past  the 
fiftieth  thousand.  He  is  engaged  at  present  in  furnish- 
ing a  series  of  articles  to  "The  Advance,"  of  Chicago, 
on  the  general  subject  of  consecrated  living,  which  will 
probably  soon  be  gathered  together  and  printed  in 
book  form,  under  the  title,  "Victory  Through  Sur- 
render.'' 

In  personal  appearance  and  manners,  Mr.  Mills 
presents  no  striking  peculiarities.  He  is  rather  below 
medium  height,  with  a  firmly  knit  frame,  strong  mus- 
cular development,  and  great  physical  vigor  and 
powers  of  endurance.  He  has  a  free,  genial,  pleasant 
manner,  is  easily  approached,  has  a  frank,  open  face,  a 
bright  smile,  a  cordial  greeting,  and  cheery  words  for 
every  one.  He  has  the  warm  confidence  of  the  pastors 
and  all  ministers  of  Christ,  and  loves  to  be  among 
them,  and  to  have  them  around  him,  always  urgmg 
them  to  sit  with  him,  and  having  sometimes   not  less 


94  Mills  Meetings 

than  one  hundred  ministers  on  the  platform  at  one 
time.  In  fact,  he  regards  the  meetings  as  theirs,  and 
himself  as  but  the  leader.  At  the  same  time  he  holds 
not  only  every  part  of  the  services,  but  every  detail  of 
the  work  of  the  entire  organization  in  his  own  hands 
with  a  firm  grasp.  He  is  a  born  organizer  and  general, 
possessing  in  a  high  degree  the  faculty  of  controlling 
men.  Always  collected  and  self-poised,  never  losing 
presence  of  mind,  he  was  able  to  handle  as  easily  the 
vast  audiences  which  at  times  surged  into  the  great 
Music  Hall,  and  crowded  by  thousands  its  seats  and 
aisles  from  the  organ  to  the  topmost  balcony,  as  the 
smallest  inquiry  meetings  which  gathered  in  the  lecture 
rooms  of  the  churches. 

As  a  preacher,  Mr.  Mills  is  tremendously  earnest, 
persuasive  and  convincing.  He  aims  directly  at  the 
one  result.  He  believes  that  men  are  lost  in  sin,  and 
his  object  is  to  save  them  through  Christ.  At  the  same 
time  he  disregards  to  a  remarkable  extent  the  mere 
emotional  element,  and,  as  Mr.  Lowden,  of  Elizabeth, 
N.  J.,  very  aptly  says:  "So  constantly  holds  out  the 
possibility  of  being  a  Christian  simply  because  it  is 
right,  and  forsaking  sin  simply  because  it  is  wrong, 
that  people  are  converted  without  trace  of  emotion, 
save  seriousness.  As  one  has  said,  it  is  this  in  a  large 
measure  which  commends  him  to  to  the  masculine 
mind,  over  which  he  has  a  power  far  in  excess  of  that 
usually  enjoyed  by  evangelists.  His  success  in  this  city 
with  the  meetings  for  the  men  only  was  most  wonder- 
ful." This  was  emphatically  true  in  Cincinnati.  Not 
only  in  the  districts  were  the  largest  churches  crowded 
at  these  men's  services,  but  on  several  occasions  Music 
Hall  was  filled  with  audiences  o{  four  thousand  men,  and 


Memorial  Volume.  95 

hundreds  rose  for  prayer.  Mr.  Mills  is  an  attractive  and 
forcible  speaker,  but  rarely  indulges  in  what  are  termed 
"flights  of  eloquence,"  except  as  the  truth  is  eloquent. 
He  preaches  a  pure,  simple  gospel,  the  gospel  of  a  full 
and  free  salvation  through  the  atonement  of  Jesus 
Christ,  and  of  righteous  living  ;  and  seeks  to  lead  men 
to  an  immediate  forsaking  of  sin,  and  acceptance  of 
Jr-sus  Christ  as  their  personal  Saviour.  He  believes  in 
the  Bible  as  the  infallible  word  of  God  ;  in  the  church 
as  a  divine  institution  ;  in  the  Christian  ministry  as 
God's  chosen  instrumentality  for  bringing  the  world  to 
Christ ;  and  in  consecrated  living  on  the  part  of  the 
people  of  God  as  the  standing  argument  for,  and  illus- 
tration of,  the  power  of  the  religion  of  Jesus.  His 
work  and  methods  have  in  them  no  trace  of  sectarian- 
ism, one  of  his  requirments  always  being  the  union  of 
many  congregations  of  different  evangelical  denomina- 
tions in  one  effort — a  requirement  which  was  met  in  a 
remarkable  manner  in  this  city,  where  sixteen  different 
denominations  and  more  then  seventy  churches  joined 
actively  in  the  movement.  j.  j.  f. 


MR.  LAWRENCE  B.  GREENWOOD, 

THE    GREAT    EVANGELISTIC    SINGER. 

Mr.  Lawrence  B.  Greenwood,  the  musical  as- 
sistant of  Mr.  Mills  in  al!  his  great  work,  and  who 
shares  with  him  the  affection  and  gratitude  of  so  many 
thousands  of  hearts,  was  born  in  Keen,  New  Hamp- 
shire, in  1865,  and  hence  is  now  twenty-six  years  old. 

He  pursued  his  academic  studies  in  the  noted  pub- 
lic schools  of  Boston,  and  took  his  collegiate  course  in 
Boston  University. 

He  was  married  in  1889,  to  Miss  Laura  Mellor,  of 
Boston,  and  is  the  happy  father  of  one  lovely  little 
daughter.  Mrs.  Greenwood  and  their  baby  have  been 
with  him  during  the  greater  part  of  his  stay  in  Cincin- 
nati.    Their  present  home  is  in  West  Somerville,  Mass. 

Mr.  Greenwood  is  licensed  to  preach  by  the  Baptist 
Church,  but  has  found  his  widest  field  of  usefulness  in 
using  the  beautiful  voice  with  which  he  has  been  gifted 
by  God,  and  which  he  has  consecrated  to  the  Master's 
service,  in  singing  the  Gospel  of  Jesus  Christ  not  only 
into  the  ears,  but  into  the  hearts  of  men.  He  has  been 
associated  with  Mr.  Mills  for  three  and  a  half  years,  and 
is  a  most  valued  and  efficient  helper  in  all  his  evangel- 
istic work.  He  is  generally  regarded  by  competent 
judges  to  be  the  most  effective  singer  of  evangelistic 
music  now  engaged  in  the  work  in  this  country  or  in 
the  world.  The  perfect  understanding  and  sympathy 
between  these  two  men  in  conducting  a  great  service  is 
very   remarkable.     They   seem   almost   to   read    each 

other's  thoughts. 
96 


^    »v^ 


LAWRKN'CK    B.  (IKKKNWOOI). 


Memorial  Volume.  97 

Mr.  Greenwood's  singing  is  wonderfully  sympa- 
thetic, whether  in  a  small  inquiry  meeting,  or  in  the 
vast  assemblages  such  as  those  which  packed  every 
foot  of  standing  room  in  the  great  Music  Hall  with 
nearly  eight  thousand  people.  We  give  elsewhere  one 
of  the  solos  which  he  sang  with  solemn  and  impres- 
sive effect  in  the  Cincinnati  meetings.  His  ability  to 
handle  with  ease  a  large  body  of  singers  was  evident 
in  his  perfect  management  of  the  vast  Music  Hall 
chorus  choir,  numbering  nearly  one  thousand  voices, 
accompanied  by  one  of  the  great  organs  of  the  world. 
In  his  singing  !ie  h  utterly  devoid  of  all  mannerism  or 
affectation.  But  it  is  not  alone  in  singing  or  in  the 
general  meetings  that  he  renders  valuable  service.  His 
power  in  the  after  meetings  is  second  only  to  that  of 
Mr.  Mills,  in  tenderness  to  inquirers  and  converts,  in 
words  of  counsel  and  exhortation,  and  in  his  apt  and 
forcible  use  of  the  Word  of  God.  Mr.  J.  D.  Lowden, 
city  editor  of  the  Elizabeth  (  N.  J.)  Daily  Journal,  said 
of  him  while  in  that  city  two  months  ago  :  "  He  has  a 
winning  way,  and  reaches  the  hearts  of  those  in  need  of 
comforting  and  assuring  words.  His  remarks  and 
prayers  are  always  timely  and  helpful.  While  in  this 
city  the  affections  of  very  many  were  drawn  to  him." 
Every  word  of  this  is  true  of  Mr.  Greenwood  in  Cin- 
cinnati. The  memory  of  his  sweet  voice  will  continue  to 
make  music  in  thousands  of  hearts  in  this  city  through 
all  the  years  to  come  ;  while  his  words  of  faith  and 
hope,  his  genial  and  lovable  spirit,  and  his  beautiful 
life  of  consecration  and  devotion,  have  left  an  influence 
which  will  linger  in  the  experience  of  multitudes  like  a 
heavenly  benediction,  and  be  felt  through  all  eternity. 

J.  J.  F. 


SCHEDULE   OF   MEETINGS. 


On  this  and  the  following  pages  are  given  as  com- 
plete lists  as  we  have  been  able  to  secure  of  the  dates 
and  places  of  the  services  held  in  direct  connection 
with  the  Mills'  Meetings,  during  the  six  weeks.  There 
may  have  been  others  of  which  we  did  not  learn.  The 
churches  in  which  these  services  were  held  were 
selected  either  by  Mr.  Mills  or  the  Devotional  Com- 
mittee, or  by  the  vote  of  the  pastors,  solely  because  of 
their  location  or  size.  The  first  list  gives  the  general 
schedule  of  dates  in  the  districts  ;  the  second,  the  dates 
and  places  of  services  at  which  Mr.  Mills  or  Dr.  Chap- 
man preached  ;  and  the  third,  the  places  and  dates  of 
other  meetings,  and  the  names  of  the  ministers  who 
preached. 


I.   Dates  of  Meetings. 

I.  Walnut  Hills  District January  21  to  31 

II.  Mt.  Auburn  District February  i  to  10 

III.  Covington  District February  i  to  10 

IV.  United  Central  District February  11  to  21 

V.  Music  Hall  Meetings ^ February  22  to  March  0 


Memorial  Volume. 


99 


III — Places  of  Meetings. 

All  the  meetings  mentioned  below  were  conducted  either  by  Mr. 
Mills  or  Dr.  Chapman,  except  one  on  Mt.  Auburn,  by  Mrs.  Ballington 
Booth. 


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III. — Other  Meetings  of  Groups  of  Churches. 

During  the  progress  of  the  Mills  Meetings,  especially  on  Sabbaths, 
by  request  of  Mr.  Mills,  the  Devotional   Committee  arranged  a  large 


lOO 


Mills  Meetings 


number  of  groups  of  churches  in  different  sections  of  the  city,  and 
appointed  union  meetings  to  be  held  in  one  church  in  each  group,  the 
sermon  to  be  preached  by  a  minister  selected  by  the  committee.  We 
have  no  general  reports  of  these  meetings,  but  they  were  largely  attended, 
and  accomplished  much  good.  At  one  of  these  services,  conducted  by 
the  writer,  the  large  church  was  entirely  filled,  and  nearly  one  hundred 
chairs  had  to  be  carried  in  to  accommodate  the  great  congregation. 
This  was  probably  a  fair  sample  of  many  others.  We  give  below  a  list 
of  these  special  union  services,  so  far  as  we  have  been  able  to  learn  of 
them.  The  list  is  probably  not  entirely  complete.  In  it  are  included 
several  "overflow"  meetings,  such  as  that  of  the  evening  of  February 
22,  in  the  First  Baptist  Church  (Dr.  M.  C.  Lockwood,  pastor),  at 
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MILLS   MEETINGS. 


WALNUT    HILLS    DISTRICT. 


FIRST  DAY'S   SERVICE. 

Thursday,  Jatiuary  21,  i8g2. 

The  long  weeks  and  months  of  busy  preparation 
and  of  eager  expectation  came  to  an  end,  and  the  first 
service  in  the  First  District  was  held  by  Mr.  Mills,  on 
Thursday  evening,  January  21,  in  the  First  Presbyterian 
Church  of  Walnut  Hills.  Perhaps  no  better  impression 
of  this  opening  service  can  be  given  than  by  a  repro- 
duction in  part  of  the  excellent  reports  published  the 
following  day  in  the  daily  newspapers  of  the  city  ;  the 
morning  Enquirer  and  Commercial-Gazette^  and  the 
evening  Times-Star  and  Post. 


If  the  opening  meeting  of  the  series  to  be  con- 
ducted in  this  city  by  Rev.  B.  Fay  Mills  augurs  any- 
thing for  the  success  of  the  enterprise  thus  taken  up 
by  the  evangelical  churches  of  Cincinnati,  one  of  the 
greatest  religious  revivals  of  her  history  may  be  con- 
fidently expected. 


I02  Mills  Meetings 

The  evangelist  arrived  Thursday,  but  his  work  was 
not  to  inaugurate  the  revival.  It  had  already  been 
started.  Months  ago,  preparatioiis  were  begun  by 
the  various  churches  of  the  city,  under  the  leader- 
ship of  their  faithful  pastors,  so  that  Mr.  Mills,  when 
he  arrived,  should  find  the  field  ripe  for  the  harvest. 
He  could  scarcely  have  looked  for  a  more  encouraging 
reception  than  was  given  him  Thursday  night  at  the 
First  Presbyterian  Church  on  Walnut  Hills. 

In  fact,  the  opening  meeting,  in  point  of  attendance, 
earnestness  and  evident  enthusiasm,  went  far  beyond 
the  expectations  of  the  leaders  of  the  movement. 

The  announcement  had  been  made  that  the  doors 
would  be  opened  at  7:15  o'clock,  but  long  before  that 
time  the  crowds  began  to  gather,  so  that  it  was  found 
necessary  to  throw  open  the  doors  at  7  o'clock. 

The  first  part  of  the  meeting  was  taken  up  with  an 
informal  service  ot  song,  led  by  Mr.  Lawrence  B. 
Greenwood,  the  special  singer  who  accompanies  Mr. 
Mills,  and  who  is  of  invaluable  assistance  to  him  in 
his  work.  A  magnificent  volunteer  choir  of  150  ladies 
and  gentlemen  from  the  various  churches  of  Walnut 
Hills  furnished  the  music,  the  great  congregation  join- 
ing in  the  more  familiar  hymns.  The  song  book  used 
js  a  special  edition  of  "  Gospel  Hymns,"  prepared  by 
Mr.  Mills. 

During  the  opening  song  service,  people  kept 
thronging  in.  Auditorium  and  gallery  were  filled  to 
overflowing  in  fifteen  minutes,  and  late  comers  were 
obliged  to  stand  in  the  aisles  or  reluctantly  turn  away 
from  the  service. 

The  song  service  began  with  "There  shall  be 
Showers    of    Blessings,"    followed    in    succession    with 


Memorial  Volume.  103 

"I  know  in  Whom  I  Have  Believed  "  and  "Seeking 
for  Me."  Mr.  Greenwood  then  sang  a  solo,  "The 
Summons  of  God,"  and  as  the  last  note  of  the  refrain 
died  away,  a  young  looking  man,  with  a  kindly  face 
and  unpretentious  manner,  stepped  upon  the  platform. 
This  was  Mr.  Mills.  He  was  followed  by  Dr.  J.  W. 
Simpson,  chairman  of  the  General  Executive  Commit- 
tee ;  Bishop  Walden,  Dr.  Pearson,  and  the  pastors  of 
the  cooperating  Walnut  Hills  churches — Dr.  A.  B. 
Riggs,  Dr.  S.  McChesney,  Rev.  J.  A.  Hall,  Rev.  W. 
E.  Loucks,  Rev.  C.  J.  Tanner,  Rev.  Louis  Nippert, 
and  Dr.  Wm.  McKippen. 

A  large  number  of  ministers  from  other  parts  of 
the  city  were  gathered  around  the  platform,  among 
whom  were  Rev.  T.  O.  Lowe,  Rev.  H.  W.  Gilchrist, 
Rev.  H.  W.  Warren,  Dr.  J.  J.  Francis,  Dr.  J.  Z. 
Tyler,  Dr.  E.  K.  Bell,  Rev.  H.  M.  Curtis,  and 
others. 

The  doxology  was  sung  by  the  congregation 
standing,  followed  by  the  Lord's  Prayer,  led  by  Dr. 
McKibben. 

Rev.  W.  E.  Loucks  led  in  prayer,  in  his  closing 
petition  beseeching  God  that  the  city  might  be  moved 
as  it  never  had  been  before.  Mr.  Greenwood  than 
sang  a  beautiful  solo. 

Dr.  Simpson  rose,  before  the  hush  caused  by  Mr* 
Greenwood's  sympathetic  rendering  of  the  words  of 
the  touching  song  had  been  broken,  and  in  his  fluent, 
impressive  manner,  said : 

"  It  gives  pleasure  to-night  to  feel  that  the  hour  has 
come  when  we  enter  formally  upon  the  work  to  which 
we  have  looked  forward  with  so  much  prayer  and  trust. 
We  have  with  us  to-night  two  brethren  who  have  been 


I04  Mills  Meeting 

very  successful  in  preaching  and  singing  the  gospel  into 
the  hearts  of  all  with  whom  they  have  come  in  contact. 
I  know  that  I  am  safe  in  saying  that  we  have  wanted 
these  brethren  to  come  very  much.  Under  their  guid- 
ance we  shall  go  forward  and  obtain  God's  blessing.  I 
knovv  that  the  Christian  people  of  Walnut  Hills  will  be 
loyal  to  the  work  and  the  leader.  It  gives  me  pleasure 
to  introduce  him  from  whose  lips  you  expect  to  hear 
the  gospel  truths." 

Mr.  Mills  stepped  modestly  forward  and  began  to 
read  the  words  of  the  126th  Psalm.  As  he  proceeded 
deliberately,  that  the  words  might  sink  into  the  minds 
of  his  hearers,  he  delivered  a  running  commentary 
upon  the  thoughts  expressed  : 

"When  the  Lord  turned  again  the  captivity  of 
Zion  we  were  like  them  that  dream."  He  said  that  he 
did  not  know  of  anything  that  so  indicated  the  spirit  of 
the  genuine  revival  as  this  passage  in  reference  to  the 
return  from  captivity.  He  read  the  next  line:  "The 
Lord  has  done  great  things  for  us ;  whereof  we  are 
glad.  Turn  again  our  captivity,  O  Lord,  as  the  streams 
of  the  south." 

"It  seems  like  a  strange  prayer,"  he  continued. 
"  The  psalmist  had  just  spoken  of  their  release,  and  now 
he  prays  again  for  deliverance.  There  are  two  w^ays  of 
explaining  this.  There  were  some  of  their  brethren 
left  in  Babylon,  and  perhaps  this  was  an  expression  of 
the  heart's  desire  of  the  psalmist  with  reference  to  these. 
The  second  explanation  is  that  they  wanted  something 
as  much  better  than  their  release  from  captivity  as  that 
was  better  than  their  previous  condition.  They  said, 
*  The  Lord  hath  done  great  things,  why  should  He  not 
do  greater  ?'     But  why  did  they  ask  Him  to  turn  their 


WAI/IER   vS.  PKII<:ST. 

Pastor  cif   Fourth   Street  Christian  Church, 
(.'ovin^Lon 


RlvV.   F.   I),  T.   BICKLKV. 

Pastor  of  Mam  Street  M     K    Church. 

(_   OvillCTtHU. 


REV.  W.   H.  NP.l'.L. 

Pastor  nf  Madison    Avenue    Preshytr 
Church.  Co\nmton. 


ELDER   W.  S.  KEENE. 

Pastor  of  Fiflh  Street  Christian  Church, 
Cov.nuto,,. 


Memorial  Volume.  105 

hearts  as  the  streams  of  the  south  ?  They  are  never 
frozen.  I  wish  that  we  could  pray  this  prayer,  that  our 
hearts  might  not  be  cold.  The  Spirit  of  God  is  just  as 
much  here  to-night  as  it  ever  will  be  anywhere.  The 
way  to  pray  for  the  descent  of  the  Holy  Spirit  is  to 
open  the  heart.  What  we  want  is  not  another  Pente- 
cost, but  a  realization  that  Pentecost  is  now. 

**  For  a  man  to  pray  for  the  Holy  Ghost  to  come 
among  us,  and  not  open  his  heart,  is  as  if  a  man  should 
go  out  at  noonday  and  pray  for  the  sunlight  with  his 
hands  held  firmly  over  his  eyes. 

**  Do  you  think  that  it  is  possible  for  us  to  guarantee 
the  success  of  this  movement?  I  do.  We  must  have 
the  spirit  of  sacrifice,  we  must  have  the  spirit  of  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ.  It  means  real  sacrifice  on  our  part 
for  the  sake  of  souls. " 

Before  Mr.  Mills  had  finished  the  reading  he  had 
imparted  some  of  his  own  spirit  to  the  great  audience. 
There  is  a  magnetic  quality  about  the  man  that  can  not 
be  put  in  words. 

As  the  congregation  rose  to  sing  the  hymn,  "Sow- 
ing Seeds  of  Gladness,"  it  was  noticeably  warm  and 
close,  and  Mr.  Mills  gave  evidence  of  that  attention  to 
details  for  which  he  has  become  famous,  by  stopping  the 
music  and  giving  directions  that  the  windows  be  thrown 
open — "wide  open."  "Mr.  Moody,  "he  said,  "  was  ac- 
customed to  declare  that  nothing  interfered  so  much 
with  a  revival  success  as  foul  air. " 

After  the  singing,  Mr.  Mills  went  on  to  announce  as 
his  text  the  words  to  be  found  in  H.  Corinthians  viii.  5, 
"They  first  gave  their  own  selves  unto  the  Lord." 

"We  talk  a  great  deal,"  he  said,  "about  giving 
ourselves  to  God.     There  is  scarcely  a  single  service  in 


io6  Mills  Meeting 

which  we  do  not  say  something  about  this  gift  that  we 
make  of  ourselves. 

"Now  what  is  the  nature  of  a  gift?  In  the  first 
place,  it  should  be  voluntary.  You  can  not  force  men 
to  make  you  a  gift,  nor  can  you  make  men  become 
Christians.  A  man  can  never  become  a  son  of  God 
without  some  voluntary  action  on  his  part.  This  is  the 
one  great  mark  that  distinguishes  the  human  from  the 
brute. 

"In  the  second  place,  a  gift  must  be  unselfish.  You 
may  not  pay  the  full  value,  but  if  you  pay  anything  at 
all,  it  is  not  a  gift.  The  latter  you  never  purchase.  In 
place  of  weakness  we  want  strength  ;  in  place  of  certain 
death  we  want  eternal  life.  Now,  what  shall  we  give 
for  these  things  ?  Can  you  purchase  them  with  money? 
A  short  time  ago  a  New  York  millionaire  offered  all  his 
money,  in  his  despair,  for  the  prolongation  of  his  life. 
No  article  of  wealth  can  purchase  what  you  want  of 
God.  Nay,  more,  if  you  should  take  the  power  and 
wealth  of  all  the  men  who  have  ever  lived  and  put  it 
all  together,  it  would  not  weigh  anything  against  that 
which  you  desire.  So  I  am  glad  that  God  did  not 
make  any  conditions  of  purchase  govern  the  matter. 
Christ  was  concerned  about  quality,  and  not  quantity. 
He  manifested  this  shortly  after  the  occurrence  of  the 
miracle  of  the  loaves  and  fishes.  To  the  many  who 
followed  Him  the  next  day  who  were  governed  by 
sordid  motives.  He  turned  and  said  that  they  were 
seeking  Him  from  a  wrong  impulse.  They  thought  if 
he  gave  them  loaves  and  fishes  on  one  day.  He  could 
do  it  continually.  They  hoped  that  if  they  should  ally 
themselves  with  the  wonder-worker  in  the  days  of  His 
humiliation,    they    would    be    enabled    to    share    with 


Memorial  Volume.  107 

Him  the  kingdom  of  the  world  in  the  day  of  His 
success. 

"No  man  can  become  a  genuine  Christian  if  his 
motive  be  only  to  escape  from  hell.  A  man  never  comes 
to  God  until  he  surrenders  himself  and  says  in  his  own 
heart,  '  I  do  this  because  it  is  right.' 

"In  the  third  place,  a  gift  must  be  irrevocable. 
Your  little  boy  may  run  up  to  you  and  throw  into  your 
lap  some  toy,  saying  that  he  gives  it  to  you.  A  mo. 
ment  later  he  comes  and  reclaims  his  toy.  We  must 
not  give  as  children  give.  The  true  spirit  is  indicated 
in  the  words,  I  give  myself  wholly  to  Thee. 

"The  three  things  which  we  know  make  up  the 
Christian  life  are  knowledge,  experience  and  service. 
We  can  not  know  anything  spiritually,  except  in  pro- 
portion as  we  give  ourselves  to  the  Lord.  You  may 
just  as  well  try  to  think  with  your  feet  as  to  attempt  to 
understand  spiritual  things  by  the  exercise  of  your 
reason.  There  have  been  hosts  of  men  of  the  highest 
intellectual  capacity  who  have  been  the  greatest 
scoundrels  of  their  time.  There  has  been  one  truth  at 
least  that  has  been  emphatically  pronounced  by  the 
agnostic,  and  it  is  an  important  one,  that  we  do  not 
find  any  data  through  the  exercise  of  our  physical 
senses  that  enables  us  to  say  that  there  is  a  God.  For 
this  a  spiritual  sense  is  required,  and  this  comes  with 
self-surrender.  You  can  not  learn  God's  truths  from 
any  man  or  set  of  men.  You  can  learn  more  about 
God  in  one  second  after  you  have  surrendered  your 
will  than  you  could  learn  in  an  eternity  through  the 
exercise  of  your  mental  faculties. 

"  Fortunately  for  us,  God  imposed  as  a  condition 
of  eternal   life    that  which  any  man   can  fulfill.     The 


io8  Mills  Meetings 

learned  and  the  ignorant,  the  high  and  lowly,  the  rich 
and  poor,  can  surrender  their  wills  to  the  Lord.  To 
the  soul  of  the  man  who  knows  only  one  thing,  and 
that  to  do  God's  will,  ev^erything  becomes  clear.  If 
your  spiritual  faculty  is  not  being  increased  from  day  to 
day,  you  may  be  sure  that  it  is  not  on  account  of  your 
mental  incapacity,  but  it  is  because  you  have  not  sur- 
rendered yourself  You  will  never  know  what  it  is  to 
be  a  Christian  unless  you  make  this  surrender.  Then 
you  will  experience  the  sensation  of  knowing  some- 
thing about  things  spiritual.  You  will  then  be  cogni- 
zant of  things  that  the  eye  can  not  see,  and  the  ear  can 
not  hear. 

"Some  of  you  may  remember  about  the  conversion 
of  Dr.  Bushnell.  It  occurred  when  he  was  a  young 
man  and  a  tutor  in  Yale  College.  He  was  a  skeptic  at 
the  time,  and  had  no  sympathy  with  revivals.  His  in- 
fluence, on  account  of  his  position,  was  felt  among  the 
students,  and  he  felt  his  responsibility.  It  worried  him 
so  that  he  finally  resolved  to  settle  the  matter  once  for 
all.  He  sat  down  and  took  stock  of  his  beliefs.  Two 
things  he  thought  that  he  felt  sure  of — that  God  exists, 
and  that  right  is  right,  and  wrong  is  wrong.  He  re- 
solved to  give  himself  up  entirely  to  doing  just  what  he 
felt  was  right.  He  prayed  to  God  in  this  attitude  of 
mind,  and  the  right  way  opened  up  before  him. 

"Here  was  an  instance  of  a  civilized,  highly  culti- 
vated man  reaching  certainty  by  the  only  possible 
path.  I  mention  it  to  contrast  it  with  that  of  one  of 
an  American  Indian  who  had  found  the  way  to  God 
before  the  advent  of  the  Christian  missionaries.  He 
prayed  to  the  Great  Spirit ;  it  was  only  a  difference, 
however,  in  name.     When  he  finally  met  the  mission- 


Memorial  Volume.  109 

aries  and  asked  them  what  he  must  do  to  become  a 
'  Christian,'  they  told  him  that  he  must  surrender  him- 
self entirely  to  God  and  resolve  to  do  his  will.  He 
replied,   '  I  have  done  that  already. ' 

"  How  much  we  talk  about  getting  spiritual  power. 
Men  try  to  get  it  as  they  try  to  get  money.  God 
chose  the  things  that  are  not,  that  He  might  bring  to 
naught  the  things  that  are.  A  pastor  may  preach 
eloquent  sermons  before  large  audiences,  and  know  lit- 
tle about  spiritual  things.  On  the  other  hand,  the 
rendering  of  a  small  service  on  the  street,  the  perform- 
ance of  a  simple  act  of  kindness,  has  resulted  in  the 
saving  of  many  souls. 

"First,  first,  first,  they  gave  their  own  selves. 

"  When  Lee  surrendered,  the  war  was  not  over;  but 
we  knew  that  the  rest  would  speedily  follow,  and  we 
were  assured  of  the  triumph  of  the  Union.  When  you 
surrender  your  will,  the  rest  will  follow  and  you  will 
receive  God's  fullest  blessing.  I  am  often  asked  what 
is  the  best  way  to  commence  a  series  of  services  like 
this, — whether  by  preaching  to  Christians,  or  to  those 
who  are  not.  Brethren,  as  God  knows  my  heart,  I 
begin  with  myself.  I  desire  first  of  all  to  give  my  own 
self  unto  the  Lord.  I  will  not  utter  anything  in  these 
meetings  but  what  has  been  a  part  of  my  life  and  ex- 
perience. 

"Have  you  given  yourself  to  God?" 

Mr.  Mills  closed  by  repeating  with  thrilling  effect 
the  verses : 

"Oh,  the  bitter  pain  and  sorrow — 
That  a  time  could  ever  be 
When  I  proudh^  said  to  Jesus, 
'  All  of  self,  and  none  of  thee.' 


no  Mills  Meetings 

•'  Yet  lie  found  me  ;  I  beheld  him 
Bleeding  on  th'  accursed  tree, 
And  my  wistful  heart  said  faintly, 
'  Some  of  self,  and  some  of  thee.' 

"  Day  by  day  his  tender  mercy, 
Healing,  helping,  full  and  free, 
Brought  me  lower,  while  I  whispered, 
'  I,ess  of  self,  and  more  of  thee.' 

"  Higher  than  the  highest  heavens, 
Deeper  than  the  deepest  sea, 
lyord,  thy  love  at  last  has  conquered, 
'  None  of  self,  and  all  of  Thee.'  " 

The  speaker  closed.  A  breathless  stillness  pervaded 
the  room,  and  after  a  moment  he  said  :  "  Let  us  pray." 
In  a  very  iQ\N  words  he  prayed  God's  blessing  upon 
the  work,  expressing  the  desire  that  he  would  impress 
each  one  with  the  importance  of  giving  himself  to 
Him. 

Another  moment  of  thoughtful  silence,  and  to 
every  one's  surprise  he  said:  "Let  us  receive  the 
benediction."  The  congregation  arose  and  was  dis- 
missed. A  more  impressive  way  of  closing  the  first 
service  could  not  have  been  chosen. 

The  work  of  the  evangelist  had  sunk  into  the  hearts 
of  his  hearers,  and  this  manner  of  closing  fixed  them 
there  more  firmly  than  any  other  could. 


SECOND  DAY'S  SERVICE. 

January  22,  i8g2. 

The  afternoon  service  was  held  in  the  Methodist 
church,  on  McMillan  street,  Walnut  Hills,  and  was 
attended  largely  by  women.     The  local  ministry  was 


\ 


wy 


4- 


M.  E.  CHURCH,  WAI.XUT    HHXS. 


Memorial  Volume.  hi 

well  represented  upon  the  platform,  and  the  congrega- 
tion joined  heartily  in  the  songs  led  by  Mr.  Lawrence 
B.  Greenwood.  The  text  was  from  Acts  x.  26:  "I 
ask,  therefore,  for  what  intent  ye  have  sent  for  me?" 

Among  other  things,  Mr.  Mills  said:  "No  man 
can  preach  efficiently  unless  the  hearts  of  the  people 
are  open  to  hear  God's  Word.  I  wish  to  talk  with 
you  in  a  familiar  way  this  afternoon,  and  ask  you  what 
was  in  your  hearts  when  you  planned  this  work,  I 
wish  even  to  attempt  to  describe  what  was  in  your 
hearts, 

"We  are  gathered  here  for  one  thing — to  empha- 
size the  unity  of  the  Church.  A  great  many  people 
have  not  realized  how  nearly  one  are  the  churches  of 
Jesus  Christ.  There  is  nothing  more  powerful  for  lay 
ing  hold  of  the  hearts  of  men  than  to  take  away  the 
scales  that  prevent  them  from  seeing  this  real  unity. 
We  must  make  one  united  effort,  and  the  issue  will  be 
certain.  In  a  great  city  like  this  the  mere  coming  to- 
gether of  the  various  churches  is  a  demonstration  of 
great  value.  God  be  thanked  for  this  spirit  of  unity  in 
Cincinnati. 

"  The  church  is  united — it  must  also  be  aggressive. 
There  are  some  churches  which  are  but  little  more 
than  religious  clubs,  I  know  of  churches  where  the 
poor  can  not  enter.  There  was  a  church  in  New  York 
that  moved  away  from  a  certain  locality  because  there 
was  too  much  wickedness  in  the  neighborhood.  Now, 
I  believe  that  the  church  is  the  greatest  power  for 
good  in  this  world  ;  and  the  great  majority  of  church 
people  recognize  the  fact  that  they  make  an  army.  I 
believe  that  it  is  worth  while,  therefore,  for  us  to 
present  a  spectacle  like  this,  and  show  our  aggressive- 


112  Mills  Meetings 

ness.  If  the  Christian  people  of  this  city  are  loyal  to 
the  plans  and  purposes  that  have  been  put  in  their 
hearts,  no  one  in  this  city  will  be  able  to  declare  that 
the  church  is  not  livang  up  to  its  standards. 

"The  one  reason  for  our  being  here  in  this  Hfe  is 
that  we  may  save  souls.  Some  think  that  we  are  here 
to  develop  and  educate  our  natures.  There  is  another 
existence  where  souls  may  grow  and  develop,  and  all 
that  we  can  attain  unto  here  will  be  as  a  mere  cipher 
to  what  is  in  store  for  us  there.  But  there  is  no  other 
existence  wherein  men  may  be  saved,  and  I  think  we, 
as  Christians,  are  placed  here  for  the  purpose  of  saving 
perishing  men.  The  Church  of  Christ  is  not  a  school 
nor  a  hospital.  It  is  an  army ;  it  is  an  ambassador  ; 
and  this  gospel  does  not  belong  to  us  alone,  but  to  a 
whole  perishing  world. 

"In  the  third  place,  and  this  is  the  great  thing,  we 
are  met  to  emphasize  the  fact  that  we  are  dependent 
on  the  Holy  Spirit.  As  the  first  article  of  our  creed, 
let  us  write  down  the  words :  '  I  believe  in  the  Holy 
Ghost ! '  I  have  no  use  for  a  religion  that  is  not  a 
supernatural  religion.  The  more  the  Bible  is  accred- 
ited by  the  wonders  done  among  men,  the  more  do  I 
believe  in  it.  It  is  a  pity  that  we  have  got  to  such  a 
place  that  we  do,  not  realize  our  helplessness  without 
the  baptism  of  the  Holy  Ghost.  I  am  glad  to  find 
that  God  has  put  it  into  the  hearts  of  the  Christian 
people  of  this  city,  so  widely  known  as  a  center  of  cul- 
ture, and  also  of  vice,  to  see  that  nothing  can  be  done 
without  the  outpouring  of  the  Holy  Spirit." 

So  I  intend  to  speak  plainly  to  you,  and  I  give  you 
fair  notice.  But  I  know  of  no  novelties.  You  will 
not  hear  from  me  one  word  of  God's  truth  that  you 


Memorial  Volume.  113 

have  not  heard  before.  My  mission  demands  that 
1  shall  be  self-sacrificing,  pure  in  motive  and  earnest. 
Does  this  work  call  for  anything  from  you  ?  In  your 
own  home  you  may  have  a  child  that  is  out  of  the 
kingdom.  Pray  begin  now  to  realize  your  fearful  re- 
sponsibility. 

"There  is  a  story  of  an  incident  that  occurred  during 
the  war.  A  battery  on  a  commanding  hill  was  worry- 
ing our  forces  very  much.  To  carry  this  position  was 
almost  certain  death  for  the  party  who  undertook  it,  and 
the  commander  felt  his  responsibility  resting  heavily  up- 
on him.  As  he  debated,  now  the  man  got  the  better 
of  it,  and  now  the  commander.  The  latter  prevailed, 
and  he  sent  the  word  of  command  to  one  of  his  gener- 
als :  '  The  commander  presents  his  love,  and  asks^you  to 
silence  the  cannon  on  the  hill.'  An  attack  followed, 
terrible  for  its  accompanying  loss  of  life,  but  the  mes- 
sage finally  came  to  the  commander :  'The  general 
presents  his  love,  and  with  it  the  cannon  that  were 
standing  on  yonder  hill. '  Oh,  brethren,  shall  it  not  be 
that  we  shall  soon  wave  this  answer  back  to  heaven, 
'Jesus,  we  present  to  thee  our  love,  and  all  those  souls 
rescued  from  sin  and  depravity  "•' " 


The  evening  service  was  held  at  the  First  Presby- 
terian Church  on  Gilbert  Avenue.  A  large  congrega- 
tion awaited  the  opening  of  the  doors.  The  song 
service  was  particularly  inspiring.  Mr.  Greenwood 
sang  the  hymn,  "Throw  Out  the  Life  Line,"  with 
much  feeling. 

The  chorus  was  sung  by  the  whole  congregation, 
after  several  attempts,  during  which  they  were  memo, 
rizing  the  words. 


114  Mills  Meetings 

Throw  put  the  life  line,  throw  out  the  life  line, 

Some  one  is  drifting  away; 
Throw  out  the  life  line,  throw  out  the  life  line, 

Some  one  is  sinking  to-day. 

Mr,  Mills  took  his  text  for  the  evening  from  Luke 
xxii.  44 :  ' '  On  being  in  agony,  he  prayed  more  fer- 
vently." 

This  sermon  will  be  given  in  full  in  the  report  of 
the  meetings  held  in  the  Central  District.  The  service 
closed  with  an  earnest  appeal  to  all  who  desired  to  pray 
for  themselves,  and  an  opportunity  was  given  to  join 
an  after  service  in  the  Sunday-school  room  adjoining. 
Many  accepted  and  joined  the  service. 


THIRD  DA  YS  SER  VICE. 
Saturday,  January  2^. 

There  was  but  one  regular  service  on  this  day, 
which  was  the  conference  of  S.  S.  officers,  teachers, 
and  Avorkers  held  at  the  Walnut  Hills  Baptist  Church, 
on  Kemper  Lane,  at  8  o'clock,  p.  m.  Pastors,  superin- 
tendents and  teachers  from  all  the  churches  and  schools 
in  the  Walnut  Hills  District  were  present,  and  many 
ministers  from  other  parts  of  the  city,  among  them 
Rev.  T.  O.  Lowe,  Rev.  H.  M.  Curtis,  Rev.  W.  H. 
Warren,  Dr.  J.  J.  Francis,  Dr.  F.  C.  Monfort,  and 
others. 

Mr.  Lawrence  B.  Greenwood  led  in  singing  several 
Gospel  songs.  Dr.  J.  W.  Simpson  led  in  prayer,  after 
which  Mr.  Mills  spoke  with  simple  earnestness  upon 
the  subject  of  Sunday-school  work,  more  especially  for 
the  following  Sunday. 


X, 


"^ili"'i  © 


Mh. 


.'      '.A 


-;■./  ^ •-♦%/. 


&; 


Memorial  Volume.  115 

His  words  are  given  in  full  in  the  report  of  the  S. 
S.  conference  at  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  February  13th. 

At  the  close  of  the  service  all  representatives  of 
Sunday-schools  present  grouped  themselves  in  different 
parts  of  the  room,  and  prayerfully  discussed  their  plans 
for  work  in  the  Sunday  services  on  the  morrow. 

All  were  impressed  v/ith  the  simplicity  of  power  in 
the  plans  of  Rev.  B.  Fay  Mills,  and  hearts  warmed  to 
the  work  of  saving  the  members  of  their  classes  as 
never  before. 


FOURTH  DATS  SERVICE, 
Sunday,  January  2^. 

The  first  Sunday  in  this  movement  was  one  of 
great  interest.  The  services  were  attended  by  large 
gatherings  of  young  people  in  the  morning,  and  by  men 
in  the  evening. 

The  Walnut  Hills  Congregational  Church,  corner  of 
Locust  and  Beech  streets,  was  filled  to  overflowing  with 
young  people  from  ten  to  thirty-five  years. 

They  were  admitted  by  card  only  from  the  congre- 
gations of  the  Methodist,  First  Presbyterian,  Seventh 
Presbyterian,  German  Methodist  Churches,  Woodburn 
Mission  and  O'Brianville  Sabbath-schools. 

The  sight  was  a  refreshing  one.  There  was  not  a 
vacant  seat  in  auditorium  or  gallery.  There  were  many 
standing,  and  the  complexion  of  crowded  faces  was  the 
ruddy  glow  of  youth  or  the  vigor  of  full  manhood  or 
womanhood. 

Nor  v/as  there  apparent  the  idle  tinge  of  curiosity. 
All  had  come  for  an    earnest   purpose.     The    call   to 


ii6  Mills  Meetings 

Christian  duty  had  been  made  so  sweetly  that  it  was 
simply  irresistible. 

There  was  an  exquisite  bunch  of  red  and  white  blos- 
soms on  the  Bible-stand,  with  sprigs  of  delicate  fern, 
and  to  the  right  the  fragrance  of  white  roses  was 
spread. 

Rev.  Dr.  J.W.Simpson,  pastor  of  the  Congregational 
Church,  assisted  in  the  services,  and  it  was  rather  an 
impressive  sight  when  he  escorted  to  the  platform  the 
white-haired  Rev.  Dr.  Maxwell,  who  is  almost  an  octo- 
genarian in  the  service  of  the  Lord. 

The  congregation  numbered  many  of  the  most 
prominent  business  men  living  on  Walnut  Hills,  and 
one  of  the  busiest  workers  among  them  was  Mr. 
George  T.  Howser,  General  Secretary  of  the  Y. 
M.  C.  A. 

The  opening  hymn  of  the  service  was  "At  the 
Cross,"  in  which  the  entire  congregation  joined. 

Mr.  Mills  read  the  third  chapter  from  Proverbs  very 
impressively  :  "  My  son,  forget  not  my  law;"  "Be 
not  wise  in  thine  own  eyes;"  "  Happy  is  the  man  that 
findeth  wisdom;"  "Her  ways  are  ways  of  pleasant- 
ness," were  uttered  with  such  beautiful  solemnity  and 
simplicity  that  they  went  straight  home  to  the  hearts  of 
the  listeners. 

Rev.  Dr.  Simpson  offered  prayer  for  the  spirit  of 
self-sacrifice  to  descend  upon  the  people,  especially  upon 
the  young. 

The  hymn,  "  Building  for  Eternity,"  was  sung  next 
by  Mr.  Greenwood,  who  accompanied  himself  on  the 
organ.  He  played  the  accompaniment  in  perfect  sym- 
pathy with  the  Vv'ords.  He  miade  frequent  pauses  by 
way  of  emphasis,  the  contrast  having  a  telling  effect. 


Memorial  Volume.  ti/ 

In  fact,  the  whole  effort  was  a  sermon  in  song.  As  the 
last  notes  died  away — "Building  for  eternity" — there 
was  a  solemn  silence  in  the  church,  as  though  the  here- 
after had  already  been  entered  upon. 

Mr.  Mills  announced  another  hymn,  "  Why  Do 
You  Wait,  Dear  Brother?"  after  which  he  read  his  text, 
twelfth  chapter  of  Ecclesiastes,  first  verse:  "Remem- 
ber now  thy  Creator  in  the  days  of  thy  youth." 

His  discourse  was  a  rapid  delivery,  full  of  pathos 
and  illustrated  by  anecdote. 

"As  I  said  last  night,  the  Saviour  wanted  us  to  be- 
come like  unto  little  children." 

"He  never  desired  little  children  to  become  like 
unto  grown  men.  Now  there  are  three  special  reasons 
why  we  should  remember  the  Creator  in  the  days  of 
our  youth. 

"First,  it  is  the  only  way  to  have  a  good  time. 
There  is  no  slavery  like  that  of  sin.  In  God  alone  there 
is  nothing  but  delight.  I  can  not  begin  to  tell  of  these 
joys.  I  can  not  tell  you  how  precious  the  Saviour  is  to 
me.     It  is  only  to  taste  and  to  see. 

"Secondly,  it  is  the  only  way  to  do  good.  I  re- 
member Vice-President  Wheeler,  a  man  of  magnificent 
presence.  At  one  of  my  meetings  he  said  his  life  was 
a  failure  because  he  had  not  used  his  time  in  brino-insr 
others  to  Christ.  He  said  other  men  might  have  been 
in  Congress  like  himself,  and  others  might  have  been 
vice-presidents  of  the  United  States,  but  no  one  could 
fill  the  place  of  himself  in  that  which  he  had  lost  in  op- 
portunities of  saving  others.  '  *  For  the  rest  of  my  life, " 
said  Vice-President  Wheeler,  "  my  life  shall  be  devoted 
to  leading  souls  to  Jesus  Christ."  I  saw  him  on  his  bed 
of  sickness,    bathed  in  tears.      I  prayed  with  him,  too. 


11$  Mills  Meetings 

A  great  *  amen '  came  from  his  heart  as  he  expressed 
his  desire  that  all  his  mistakes  in  life  might  be  swept 
away  by  his  confession  and  love  of  Jesus  Christ.  You 
will  throw  your  life  away  unless  you  spend  it  in  right- 
eousness. 

"  People  in  middle  life  very  seldom  learn  to  become 
earnest  Christians.  It  does  not  look  well  that  we  should 
throw  the  dregs  of  our  life  at  the  teet  of  the  Saviour. 
Let  us  not  treat  God  after  that  tashion.  You  never 
read  in  the  newspaper  an  advertisement,  '  Wanted,  an 
old  man, '  or  '  Wanted,  an  old  woman. '  The  reason  is 
very  plain.  An  old  person  has  his  habits  formed. 
They  are  engrafted  upon  him.  It  is  difficult  for  him  to 
abandon  them,  and  learn  and  practice  new  things." 

Here  the  evangelist  related  how  he  had  visited  the 
Deaf  and  Dumb  Asylum  at  Jacksonville,  Illinois.  He 
asked  the  superintendent^  Dr.  Gillette,  how  long  it 
would  take  one  of  the  most  intelligent  inmates  to  speak 
his  native  tongue  if  his  hearing  was  restored.  His 
answer  was,  ten  years.  Just  think  of  it,  ten  years. 
And  yet  how  easily  and  quickly  language  is  learned 
in  infancy.  So  God  teaches  us  spiritually.  He  desires 
us  to  take  hold  of  Him  when  we  are  young. 

"Oh,  how  many  things,"  he  continued,  "that 
could  have  been  done  in  the  days  of  our  youth  that 
were  not  done. 

"  I  remember  at  one  of  my  meetings  in  my  pastoral 
work,  after  the  congregation  had  been  dismissed,  there 
was  a  little  boyish  face  peeping  in  at  the  door.  Pres- 
ently the  face,  and  with  it  the  boy,  walked  in.  Then 
another,  and  still  another  boy  entered,  until  there  were 
five  altogether.  The  leader  said  :  *  We  want  to  be- 
come Christians — what   must  we  do  ?  '     I  told  them  to 


Memorial  Volume.  119 

confess  Christ,  and  to  go  and  talk  it  over  among  them- 
selves. They  went  away,  and  the  next  day  the  httle 
fellow  returned  and  gleefully  said  :  '  We  have  had  a 
prayer-meeting. '  '  Well, '  I  said,  '  how  many  of  you 
were  there  ? '  The  answer  was  :  '  Just  us  five.'  I 
told  him  to  try  again.  He  returned  a  few  days  after- 
ward, and  told  me  that  there  were  two  more  boys  who 
had  joined  the  prayer-meeting.  That  was  good.  And 
so  they  made  up  a  class  of  twenty-one  fervent  boys. 
There  was  no  drowsiness  about  their  prayer-meeting, 
either.  If  one  of  the  boys  could  n't  or  would  n't  pray, 
he  was  put  out.  If  there  was  a  bad  boy,  they  prayed 
for  him  and  they  asked  him  to  pray,  in  order  that  he 
might  be  brought  to  Christ. 

"Thirdly,  it  is  only  in  the  days  of  our  youth  that 
we  are  sure  of  becoming  Christians.  It  is  a  fact  that 
two-thirds  of  the  members  of  the  church  have  become 
Christians  before  the  age  of  twenty.  Ifyou  miss  the 
opportunity  now,  as  you  grow  older  your  chances  of 
salvation  will  grow  less  and  less." 

"Your  hearts  will  be  harder  if  you  turn  away 
from  this  meeting,  not  heeding  the  voice  of  the  Lord. 
If  you  never  prayed  before,  now  is  the  time  to  pray. 
There  are  scores  in  the  audience  now  who  will  make 
their  final  decision  to-day  for  eternity. 

Mr.  Mills  now  addressed  the  meeting:  "  Let  those 
rise  who  wish  to  become  Christians."  At  different 
times  there  were  more  than  one  hundred  in  the  con- 
gregation who  arose  to  express  their  willingness  to 
serve  Christ.  As  they  rose  singly,  the  evangelist 
said  to  them :   "  God  bless  you." 

Cards  were  distributed  among  the  seated  congrega- 
tion, with  the  inscription,  "  I  desire  to  lead  a  Christian 


I20  Mills  Meetings 

life."  These  were  signed  by  about  two  hundred 
more.  Nearly  four  hundred,  after  the  benediction  by 
the  evangelist,  retired  to  the  lecture  room  for  special 
meeting  of  prayer. 

Many  here  gave  their  testimony  of  the  richness  of 
the  Divine  blessing  that  had  descended  upon  them. 

The  evangelist  remarked  :  ' '  No  profession  of  creed 
is  necessary.  The  Lord  says  simply,  '  Seek,  and  ye 
shall  find.'  " 

Sunday-school  Superintendent  Johnson  spoke  of  the 
enthusiasm  he  had  noticed  in  his  morning  class. 

Mr.  J.  B.  Martin  said:  "I  bless  God  for  a  free 
salvation." 

Mr.  D.  H.  Baldwin  said:  "Hundreds  of  scholars 
were  brought  to  Christ  this  morning." 

The  aged  R'ev.  Dr.  Maxwell  spoke  encouragingly 
of  the  work. 

Here  Mr.  Mills  repeated  the  lines  of  the  stanza  : 

Trust  and  obey, 
For  there  's  no  other  way 
To  be  happy  in  Jesus 
But  to  trust  and  obey. 

They  were  pronounced  by  the  entire  meeting  as  an 
act  of  consecration,  after  Mr.  Greenwood. 

The  evangelist  continued:  "Not  only  sing  those 
words,  but  do  what  they  advise.  The  question  is, 
'  Will  you  come  to  Jesus?'  The  answer  ought  to  be, 
'I  will.'" 

In  conclusion  Mr.  Mills  spoke  to  them  :  "You  have 
started  it — count  it  done — it  is  accomplished — there  is 
no  more  about  it.  Tell  your  neighbors  about  it  and 
bring  them  in  too." 


KivV.   Wi\l.  McKlBBHN,  D.l). 

Pastor   of   First    Presbyterian    ChiMcli, 
WaliHit    Hills. 


REV.  W.  E.  I^OrCKS. 

I'astnr  of  Baptist  rhumh.  Walnut  Hills 


C.  J.   TA.XXAR. 
Pastor  of  CliiiMi.m  (   liiir.h,  W.ilnut    Hills. 


RKV.  J.   H.  CKIKinTJIS.  M.A. 

I'ast.ir   of  Cipjiem.-    Str.-et    Pieslivlenan 
(nurrh.  W'.iliuit   Hills. 


Memorial  Volume.  121 

The  hymn,  '"Tis  the  Promise  of  God,"  finished  the 
memorable  morning  exercises. 


The  afternoon  meeting  at  3:30  o'clock  in  the  First 
Presbyterian  Church,  on  Gilbert  avenue,  was  also  for 
the  benefit  of  young  people  only  from  the  age  of  ten  to 
thirty-five  years.  They  came  from  the  Congregational, 
Baptist,  Christian  and  Lutheran  Churches,  the  Bethany 
and  Shillito  Chapels,  and  filled  the  church  to  its  utmost 
capacity. 

There  were  present  the  ruddy,  happy  faces  of  the 
Sunday-schools,  their  controlling  spirit  throughout  all 
being  the  interested  teachers,  who  hai  come  to  lend  a 
helping  hand  to  the  saving  of  souls. 

As  the  sweet  singer,  Mr.  Greenwood,  announced 
and  asssisted  in  the  singing  of  Gospel  hyms,  the  plat- 
form of  the  churchy  was  filled  by  the  young  people, 
bright,  cheerful  and  filled  with  expectation. 

The  opening  hymn  was  "I  Have  a  Friend,"  fol- 
lowed by  "  At  the  Cross,"  "  Praise  Him,"  "  We  Have 
Heard  the  Joyful  Sound,"  "Jesus  is  Calling,"  "Jesus, 
I  Come." 

As  the  last  hymn  was  nearing  its  close.  Evangelist 
Mills  stepped  up  to  the  platform  with  his  cheerfal  smile, 
like  a  child  among  children. 

He  read  the  third  chapter  from  Proverbs,  beginning  : 
"My  son,  forget  not  my  law." 

Prayer  was  offered  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  McKibbin. 

Evangelist  Mills  addressed  the  meeting  very  much 
as  he  did  at  the  morning  service  in  the  Congrega- 
tional Church. 

Nearly  a  hundred  arose  in  the  congregation  to  the 
invitation  of  the  evangelist,  and  as  the  tender  notes  of 


122  Mills  Meetings 

"Almost  Persuaded"  were  being  sung,  many 
more  signified  their  willingness  to  bring  their  services 
to  Jesus  Christ. 

The  manner  of  the  evangelist  during  these  moments 
was  impressive  by  its  candor,  its  simplicity  and  sin- 
cerity. 

He  offered  a  fervent  prayer,  and  many  were  moved 
to  rise  for  prayer. 

Cards  were  passed  around  among  the  seated  con- 
gregation by  the  ushers  to  fill  out  with  name  and  ad- 
dress to  the  confession  of  faith:  "I  desire  henceforth 
to  lead  a  Christian  life." 

Hundreds  signed  the  cards  and  attended  the  ex- 
perience meeting,  which  was  held  in  the  lecture  room 
of  the  church  after  the  benediction  had  been  pro- 
nounced by  the  evangelist. 


Mr.  Mills  preached  in  the  evening  to  men  only,  in 
the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  Gilbert  avenue,  upon  a 
text  from  Revelations  v.  20:  "Behold,  I  stand  at  the 
door  and  knock." 

Some  of  the  passages  of  the  sermon  which  made  a 
great  impression  upon  the  large  audience  of  men  were 
the  following : 

"If  a  man  wants  God  to  come  into  his  Hfe,  God 
will  come.  Any  man  who  is  willing  to  open  the  door 
of  his  heart  will  find  God  ready  to  enter.  God  knocks 
at  the  door  of  our  heart  in  many  ways. 

"  First,  through  the  conscience.  You  know  that  it 
is  most  important  to  put  ourselves  right  with  God. 
Almost  everybody  knows  this,  and  this  impression  is 
the  voice  of  God  at  the  door  of  your  heart. 


Memorial  Volume.  123 

"  In  the  second  place,  God  is  knocking  by  memory. 
By  all  your  knowledge  and  experience,  by  all  the 
promptings  of  all  these  years  has  God  been  saying  : 
*  Let  me  come  into  your  heart. ' 

"In  the  third  place,  through  this  holy  book,  I 
believe  that  the  light  of  God  in  this  Book  shines  out  to 
every  man  who  is  not  morally  blind.  No  man  ever 
found,  in  a  time  of  preplexity,  anything  that  gave  him 
satisfaction  and  comfort,  except  it  was  in  this  Book.  I 
believe  in  the  Book.  I  am  not  ashamed  to  say  that  I 
worship  it.  To  everybody  not  morally  blind,  it  is 
luminous  with  God's  truths. 

"It  may  not  be  as  it  was  with  the  soldier  whose 
life  was  saved  by  a  pocket  Bible  that  arrested  the  shot 
directed  at  his  heart,  and  who  found,  when  he  opened 
the  book,  that  the  bullet  had  stopped  at  the  passage  : 
'What  shall  I  do  to  inherit  eternal  life  ?  '  But  it  is  through 
this  Book  that  God  is  pleading  to  all  men  to  come  to  him. 

"  He  is  knocking  by  tribulation.  There  never  came 
any  sorrow  to  your  homes  that  God  did  not  send  it  to 
you.  If  God  has  ever  placed  you  in  any  dark  place,  it 
was  that  He  might  send  you  some  sunlight.  If  there 
have  ever  been  any  great  sorrows  that  have  touched  your 
hearts,  believe  me,  you  can  find  a  balm  for  your  wounds. 

"Friends,  God  is  willing  to  save  you  if  you  will 
only  let  Him  in. 

' '  God  knocks  through  the  Holy  Spirit.  He  is  wait- 
ing for  your  response.  He  will  not  come  in  unless  you 
open  wide  your  heart.  He  may  turn  away  before  long. 
The  Holy  Ghost  may  touch  you  for  the  last  time 
to-night. 

"I  am  going  to  tell  you  a  story  that  is  very  hard 
for  me  to  relate.     In  a  town  where  I  once  preached 


124  Mills  Meetings 

there  was  a  very  successful  doctor.  He  was  the  most 
respected  and  intelligent  man  in  the  community.  He 
was  not  a  Christian.  One  day  he  came  to  a  communion 
service  without  his  wife.  I  noticed  that  he  appeared  to 
be  unusually  affected  by  something,  and  that  he  got  up 
before  the  service  was  over  and  left  the  room,  looking 
as  pale  as  a  sheet.  When  I  went  out  I  met  his  wife, 
who  came  running  up  to  me  and  asked  me  to  go  im- 
mediately to  her  husband.  Something  was  the  matter 
with  him.  He  met  me  at  the  door  with  an  awful  look 
of  agony  on  his  face,  and  he  said :  '  Mills,  what  shall  I 
do  to  be  saved?'  '  Give  up  your  sins,'  I  said.  He  lay 
down  on  the  floor  and  writhed  in  the  agony  of  his 
struggles. 

"  Finally  I  told  him  that  it  was  folly  to  act  like  that, 
and  I  asked  him  to  kneel  with  me  and  pray.  He  was 
inclined  to  do  so  at  first,  but  hesitated  a  moment  and 
then  said  :  '  I  will  settle  this  matter  before  to-night's 
meeting,  and  then  I  will  rise  up  and  say  that  T  am  a 
Christian.'  I  left  him  reluctantly.  He  did  not  come  to 
the  service  at  all  that  night.  He  had  a  sick  patient. 
When  I  saw  him  again  I  asked  him  if  he  had  settled 
the  question.  '  I  will  be  in  your  church  before  the 
winter  is  out,'  was  the  reply.  I  came  away  in  June, 
and  the  doctor  was  still  unsaved.  The  day  I  came 
away  he  was  intoxicated,  and  he  told  me  that  his 
practice  was  so  exacting  that  he  had  to  resort  to  stimu- 
lants. A  few  weeks  later  there  came  a  paper,  and  the 
heavy  headlines  told  of  his  death.  Oh,  how  I  hoped 
he  had  repented  at  the  eleventh  hour.  But  no.  In  the 
few  weeks  that  had  elapsed  he  had  become  a  miserable 
sot — had  lost  his  property,  his  practice  and  his  home, 
and  had  purposely  taken  his  own  life. 


Memorial  Volume.  125 

"  I  tell  you  this  because  he  was  so  near  to  the  king- 
dom— nearer,  perhaps,  than  any  man  here — and  yet  he 
never  got  in.  May  you  cherish  the  spark  in  your  heart 
to-night." 

Mr.  Greenwood  sang  "Almost  Persuaded,"  and  Mr. 
Mills  then  said  that  he  wished  to  ask  all  present  one 
question — a  business  question  :  "Will  you  encourage 
every  desire  that  is  in  your  heart  to  become  a  Christian  ?" 

Mr.  Mills  asked  those  who  were  willing  to  encour- 
age any  desire  they  might  have  to  lead  the  Christian 
life  to  stand  up.  One  got  up  here,  another  there,  then 
another,  and  another,  until  there  were  twenty  or  more 
altogether. 

The  cards  were  distributed  as  in  the  morning  and 
afternoon  meetings,  and  many  signatures  were  ob- 
tained. All  who  signed  were  invited  to  remain  to  the 
after  meeting,  which  was  so  large  as  to  completely  fill 
the  Sunday-school  room.  As  the  hundreds  of  men 
filed  slowly  out,  Mr.  Greenwood  sang,  '  Have  You 
Any  Room  for  Jesus  ?  ' 

Room  and  time  now  give  to  Jesus, 
Soon  will  pass  God's  daj^  of  grace; 

Soon  thy  heart  left  cold  and  silent. 
And  thy  Saviour's  pleading  cease. 

During  the  evening  service,  Mr.  Mills  took  occasion 
to  urge  upon  the  men  present  the  importance  of  observ- 
ing Wednesday,  the  day  set  apart  for  prayer,  by  closing 
the  places  of  business  for  a  part  of  the  day  at  least. 
He  said: 

"You  are  called  upon  to  give  time  to  God.  We 
never  give  him  anything  unless  we  make  some  sacrifice'. 
In  a  place  like  Walnut  Hills,  we  have  often  known  of 
as  many  as  five  hundred  business  men  who  gave  up 


126  Mills  Meetings 

their  occupation  on  the  day  set  apart.  If  a  man  has  Art 
office  or  works  in  the  city,  it  would  be  well  if  he  could 
get  away  for  a  part  of  the  day,  say  from  9  to  12  o'clock. 
There  was  a  man  in  Cleveland  who  owned  a  big  furni- 
ture store.  He  closed  his  place  in  the  morning,  and 
put  up  a  notice  that  he  had  gone  to  the  meeting.  He 
returned  at  noon,  and  in  the  afternoon  did  a  greater 
business  than  he  ordinarily  did  in  a  whole  day.  And 
in  the  end,  I  tell  3'ou,  it  is  no  loss  to  serve  God.  I 
believe  that  the  people  of  Walnut  Hills  will  do  as  well 
as  they  have  elsewhere.  Morality  lies  at  the  basis  of 
your  society,  and  you  can  not  afford  to  neglect  it„ 

"  I  know  that  you  can  get  away  from  your  bui,iness. 
You  can  get  away  for  other  things.  There  was  a  man 
in  New  Jersey  who  came  to  me  at  a  time  when  this 
matter  was  before  us,  and  said  :  '  I  am  a  banker  ;  I  can 
not  possibly  get  away.  *  '  You  will  have  to  get  away 
from  your  business  some  time,'  I  said.  '  Well,  not  now, ' 
was  the  reply.  Shortly  after  that  he  came  arjd  bade 
me  good-by.  I  toid  him  I  was  not  going  away.  'But 
I  am.  I  am  going  up  to  the  Adirondacks  to  spend  a 
few  days  with  my  family,'  he  said,  and  I  had  nothing 
to  say." 


FIFTH  BAY'S   SERVICE. 

Monday,  January  25. 

The  service  began  at  2 :45  in  the  WUnut  Hills 
Methodist  Church,  on  McMillan  street,  wivh  a  prayer 
meeting  for  women,  conducted  by  Mrs.  Trcut.  Several 
of  the  ladies  present  gave  their  experiences,  and  ex- 
pressed their  willingness  to  aid  the  cause  ot  the  Lord 
in  the  blessings  of  the  present  time. 


Memoriat,  Volume.  127 

At  3  :30  o'clock  Mr.  Mills  opened  the  regular 
meeting  in  the  body  of  the  church.  He  came 
with  his  usual  serenity,  and  had  a  happy  smile  and 
hand  a  shake  with  all  the  ministers  present  on  the 
platform. 

Among  the  latter  the  following  were  noted :  Rev. 
Dr.  Mussey,  Dr.  R.  S.  Rust,  Dr.  J.  W.  Simpson, 
Rev.  J.  A.  Hall,  Dr.  S.  M.  McChesney,  Rev.  Louis 
Nippert,  Dr.  Wm.  McKibben,  Dr.  A.  B.  Riggs, 
Rev.  W.  E.  Loucks,  and  others.  Episcopal  clergymen 
were  also  in  the  audience,  notably  Rev.  Mr.  Melish, 

Mr.  Mills  was  in  one  of  his  most  earnest  and  fer- 
vent moods.  He  spoke  with  great  rapidity  of  utter- 
ance, and  often  with  a  vehemence  and  eloquence  that 
did  not  belie  the  natural  impression  he  has  made  of 
being  a  man  of  God  possessed  of  the  gift  of  eloquence. 

There  is  absolutely  no  effort  in  anything  he  speaks 
or  undertakes.  His  wide,  spacious  mouth,  broad  upper 
lip,  his  prominent  Roman  nose,  his  contour  of  face,  all 
denote  the  man  of  strong  character,  who  necessarily 
must  be  in  earnest. 

There  is  no  superfluity  about  him — not  in  his 
figure,  nor  in  his  height,  nor  in  his  language,  manner 
or  method.  He  was  cut  out  for  a  noble  mission 
among  men,  and  none  listening  to  him  for  one  meeting 
could  resist  this  expression,  whatever  their  differences 
might  be  about  the  truths  of  Christianity. 

He  announced  his  text  from  the  fourteenth  chapter 
of  Jeremiah,  eighth  and  part  of  the  ninth  verses,  be- 
ginning, "O  the  hope  of  Israel,  the  Saviour  thereof 
in  the  time  of  trouble,"  laying  special  stress  upon  the 
words:  "Why  shouldst  thou  be  like  a  mighty  man 
that  can  not  save?  " 


128  Mrr.T.s   Mkktjngs 

He  said  the  present  form  of  effort  among  the  Chris- 
tians of  Cincinnati  was  the  mightiest  and  best  ever  per- 
mitted to  man.  It  was  an  effort  in  perfect  harmony 
with  the  designs  of  Ahnighty  God. 

Let  me  tell  you  of  a  few  conditions  to  enter  the 
kingdom  of  God.  We  must  call  on  the  name  of  Christ 
in  the  first  place.  Leave  iniquity.  Say  to  Him:  "Try 
me;  cleanse  and  purify  my  heart."  See  to  the  argu- 
ments used  by  unbelievers  against  Christians.  Be  pure, 
sincere,  powerful  and  joyful,  that  their  slurs  may  vanish 
and  God  may  be  glorified.  Let  us  commence  with  our- 
selves, and  ask  Him  to  open  up  for  us  the  gates  of 
heaven. 

Secondly,  we  must  believe  that  He  will  let  us  enter 
the  kingdom.  I  remember  at  one  of  my  meetings  the 
results  were  not  so  great  as  had  been  anticipated.  It 
was  not  long  before  we  were  all  on  our  knees. 

On  the  next  day  one  thousand  came  forward  to 
profess  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  Did  not  Christ  say: 
**  And  greater  things  than  I  have  done  ye  shall  do." 
Behold  the  faith  of  Elijah.  It  was  not  when  he  saw 
the  clouds  in  the  sky,  but  before  that,  when  from 
the  innermost  depths  of  his  soul  he  exclaimed : 
"  There  is  a  sound  of  abundance   of  rain." 

You  read  of  the  great  revival  in  1632  in  Scotland, 
when,  on  a  rainy  Monday,  five  hundred  people  con- 
fessed Christ  to  the  pleadings  of  John  Livingston. 
The  following  Thursday  there  was  not  a  single  con- 
version. Why  this  difference  ?  Livingston  preached 
the  same  sermon.  Because  on  the  first  occasion  the 
people  wept  and  prayed  for  their  conversion. 

And  look  at  Jonathan  Edwards.  You  remember 
the  sermon  he  preached  so  effectively  that  the  people 


KKV.  R.  S.  RUST,  LL.D. 

Advisory   Member   of    Mills    Executive 
C  o  ni  m  1 1 1  u  e . 


REV.  D.  H.  MOORE,  D.  D. 

Editor   of  "  Western   Christian    Advocate. 

Ailv:sory    Member  of  Mills   Executive 

Committee. 


.i^*« 


REV.  J.  Z.  TYLER,  .)A). 

Pastor  of  Central    Christian   thunh. 


/  ^ 


KEV.  \V.  A.   ROBINSON. 
Pastor  of   Cni(  n  .\I.   E.  t  hurch,  C..vin.t;i(  n. 


Memorial  Volume.  129 

were  taking  hold  of  the  backs  of  their  seats  lest  they 
should  fall  into  perdition.  Yet  there  was  nothing  re- 
markable in  that  sermon.  It  was  the  Holy  Ghost  that 
had  stirred  up  the  people's  hearts. 

Thirdly,  it  is  necessary  to  give  ourselves  to  God. 
I  have  no  use  for  mechanical  contrivances  or  machinery 
in  this  matter  of  conversion.  It  is  the  work  of  the  Holy 
Ghost. 

There  was  a  silence.  Then  the  evangelist  pro- 
nounced a  fervent  prayer,  saying:  "Thou  art  planning 
great  things  for  this  city  ;  right  here  now,  do  Thou 
baptize  us  with  the  Holy  Ghost."  There  was  another 
pause,  and  he  continued:  "  O  God,  let  it  be  done  for 
Christ's  sake. 

The  benediction  was  pronounced  by  Rev.  Dr. 
Riggs. 

This  afternoon  congregation  was  very  large,  and  the 
singing  of  the  choir  exceptionally  fine. 


The  evening  service  was  held  in  the  Presbyterian 
Church  on  Gilbert  avenue.  There  was  standing  room 
only. 

After  a  song  service,  conducted  by  Mr.  Greenwood, 
Dr.  J.  Z.  Tyler  offered  prayer. 

The  evangelist  announced  his  text — a  portion  of  the 
forty-seventh  verse  of  the  fifth  chapter  of  Matthew : 
"What  do  ye  more  than  others?" 

There  is  a  great  difference — a  vital  difference  when 
it  comes  to  being  a  real,  genuine  Christian. 

If  there  is  any  one  about  you  who  does  not  know 
that  you  are  a  Christian,  and  you  are  ashamed  to  let 
others  know  that  you  are  a  Christian,  get  rid  of  that 
kind  of  Christianity  at  once. 


130  Mills  Meetings 

Friends,  if  your  Christianity  does  not  make  you  any 
different  from  other  people,  give  it  up  as  soon  as  possi- 
ble.     Such  Christianity  means  nothing. 

The  meanest  thing  on  earth  is  a  worldly  Christian. 
It  is  like  saying  a  white  black  man.  It  is  an  impossi- 
bility. 

The  poor  mongrel  who  puts  on  Christian  apparel 
and  is  still  attached  to  the  wickedness  of  the  world,  is 
the  meanest  thing  that  crawls  on  this  earth. 

Do  you  know  anything  of  the  spirit  of  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ?  You  can  not  serve  Him  and  the  world 
at  the  same  time. 

I  know  of  a  business  man  who  led  six  of  his  em- 
ployes to  Jesus  Christ. 

I  know  of  a  college  president  who  spends  his  time 
bringing  the  pupils  of  this  institution  to  the  kingdom 
of  the  Lord.      God  increase  his  tribe. 

I  wonder  has  your  child  ever  heard  you  pray? 

If  you  wish  to  preserve  the  name  of  Christian,  hon- 
or it. 

After  the  benediction  an  experience  meeting  was 
held  in  the  lecture  room,  in  which  nearly  the  entire 
congregation  participated. 


SIXTH  DA  VS  SKR  VICE. 

January  26. 

The  regular  afternoon  service  was  conducted  by 
Evangelist  Mills  in  the  Methodist  Church  on  McMillan 
street.  The  service  was  opened  with  one  of  Sankey's 
hymns,  "Hiding  in  Thee,"  sweetly  and  solemnly  an- 


Memorial  Volume.  131 

nounced  by  the  associate  evangelist,  Mr.  Greenwood. 
He  sang  with  the  assembled  congregation,  each  note 
and  accent  chiming  in  with  the  beauty  of  a  song-prayer. 
It  was  followed  by  Hymn  No.  167 — "What  a  Friend 
We  Have  in  Jesus." 

Rev.  Dr.  Pearson,  Presiding  Elder  of  the  M.  E, 
Church,  led  in  prayer. 

Mr.  Mills  read  the  last  chapter  of  the  Book  of 
Hosea,  explaining  it  after  the  martner  of  a  homily. 

Mr.  Mills  then  announced  the  meeting  for  the  day 
of  special  prayer,  and  requested  the  congregation  to 
sing  hymn  No.  197,  "More  Love  to  Thee,  O  Christ." 
He  announced  his  text  from  the  sixth  chapter  of 
Hebrews,  portion  of  the  ninth  verse:  "Things  that 
accompany  salvation." 

In  regard  to  closing  up  business  on  Walnut  Hills 
the  evangelist  said:  "Catholics,  Israelites,  and 
those  who  choose  to  be  called  infidels,  have  consented 
to  close  up  their  places  of  business.  Thank  them  for 
it.  Be  not  in  their  way.  Patronize  them,  for  it  is  a 
good  act.  Be  courteous  to  them.  Tell  them  you  ap- 
preciate the  favor  in  the  name  of  Jesus  Christ." 

Among  the  many  ministers  present,  both  at  the 
morning  and  evening  services,  was  the  venerable  octo- 
genarian. Rev.  Dr.  Nast,  the  patriarch  of  German 
Methodism  in  this  country. 


EVENING    SERVICE. 


The  evening  service  at  the  Presbyterian  Church,  on 
Gilbert  avenue,  was  crowded  to  overflowing.  The 
platform  was  well  occupied  by  ministers  of  different  de- 
nominations.     After  a   song   service   by    Mr.    L.    B. 


132  Mills  Meetings 

Greenwood,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Bell,  of  the  English  Lutheran 
Church,  offered  prayer.  Mr.  Mills,  with  a  serene  smile, 
pulled  off  his  overcoat,  and  taking  the  hymn-book  into 
his  hands,  explained  at  length  the  importance  of  the 
special  day  of  prayer.  The  meetings,  he  said,  will  be 
remembered  as  long  as  there  is  such  a  place  as  Walnut 
Hills.  You  will  need  the  deepest  pity  from  Almighty 
God  if  you  have  not  the  spirit  of  sacrifice.  I  am  glad 
the  business  houses  Vv'ill  be  closed  to-morrow.  Don't 
embarrass  them,  but  give  them  kindness  in  every  way 
possible.  Before  announcing  his  text  he  requested  his 
congregation  to  be  devoted  to  silent  prayer  for  a  few 
moments.  His  text  was  from  the  twenty-eighth  chap- 
ter of  Proverbs,  portion  of  the  thirteenth  verse:  "He 
that  covereth  his  sins  shall  not  prosper."  Mr.  Mills 
throughout  was  logical  and  earnest.  At  times  he  arose 
to  a  high  pitch  of  eloquence.  Some  cover  their  sins  by 
their  limitation  of  God's  law.  There  are  two  criterions 
by  which  we  may  judge  ourselves — first,  by  what  we 
are ;  and  secondly,  by  what  we  are  not.  The  terrible 
thing  about  sin  is  that  there  is  an  eternity  to  develop  it. 

Some  cover  their  sins  by  the  mercy  of  God.  There 
is  no  earthly  knowledge  pointing  out  to  me  the  mercy 
of  God.  I  might  study  geology  all  my  life,  and  yet 
not  find  the  Rock  of  Ages ;  I  might  study  mineralogy, 
and  yet  not  find  the  pearl  of  greatest  price ;  astronomy 
does  not  point  out  to  me  the  Star  of  Bethlehem ; 
biology  does  not  explain  the  reason  of  my  exist- 
ence. 

Then  we  cover  our  sins  with  our  conscience,  the 
most  deceiving  means  of  all.  It  is  a  delicate  machine. 
I  may  rely  upon  it  if  I  take  good  care  of  it.  If  the 
machinery  is  right  and  well  oiled,  well  and  good.   Other- 


Memorial  Volume.  133 

wise  it  will  mislead  you.  Conscience  is  the  best  and 
at  the  same  time  the  most  dangerous  possession  a  man 
may  have. 

If,  in  sowing  the  wind,  we  reap  the  whirlwind,  what 
shall  the  harvest  be  ? 

With  convincing  emphasis  and  tenderness  he  re- 
peated the  words : 

"  There  is  a  fountain  filled  with  blood,"  etc. 

I  want  you  to  be  very  thoughtful  and  prayerful  while 
Mr.   Greenwood  is  singing, 

"Where  will  you  spend  eternity.'"' 

How  many  here  to-night  who  will  say:  "Create  in 
me  a  clean  heart?  " 

"  I  will  ask  you  again  to  bow  down  in  silent,  earn- 
est prayer." 

Another  pause.  He  remarked:  "  God  be  merciful 
to  us  sinners." 

Mr.  Greenwood  offered  prayer,  and  Mr.  Mills  dis- 
missed the  congregation  with  the  benediction. 


SEVENTH  DAYS  SERVICE. 

January  2^. 

This  day  was  observed  as  a  midweek  sabbath, 
many  merchants  closing  their  stores  and  attending  the 
services.     The  services  of  the  day  were  as  follows. 

8  A.  M.  Cottage  prayer  meetings. 

9  A.  M.  Prayer  meetings  in  all  churches. 

10  A.  M.  Mr.  Mills  in  M.  E.  Church. 

2:30  p.  M.  Union  prayer  meeting  in  Baptist  Church. 
3:30  p.  M.  Mr.  Mills  in  Congregational  Church. 


134  Mills  Meetings 

7:45  p.  M.  Mr.  Mills  in  First  Presbyterian  Church. 

More  than  one  hundred  business  men  closed  their 
places  of  business  on  Walnut  Hills  during  the  hours  of 
service. 

There  were  unusual  occurrences  on  Walnut  Hills 
this  day.  Christian  people  spent  their  first  waking 
hours  on  their  knees  in  the  privacy  of  their  closets  and 
chambers,  and  offered  up  earnest  supplication  to  God 
that  He  might  bless  this  day  set  apart  for  His  worship. 
Shortly  afterwards  they  gathered  with  their  uncon- 
verted relatives  around  the  family  altar,  and  the  incense 
of  prayer  rose  again  on  high. 

At  eight  o'clock  the  various  families  in  the  different 
localities  gathered  in  the  parlors  of  some  house  in  their 
respective  neighborhoods,  and  again  petitioned  that 
God's  blessing  might  rest  on  the  day's  work. 

At  nine  o'clock  the  Christian  people  met  in  their 
respective  churches,  and  prayer  meetings  were  held 
under  the  leadership  of  their  own  pastor. 

At  ten  o'clock  there  were  union  services  in  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  conducted  by  Mr.  Mills, 
and  at  3:30  P.  M.  similar  services  were  held  in  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  led  by  Mr.  Mills.  Again,  this 
evening,  there  was  another  service  at  the  Presbyterian 
Church.  Nor  is  this  all.  The  cumulative  impulse 
given  to  the  spiritual  life  of  the  community  during  the 
day  by  the  progressive  series  of  prayer  meetings,  from 
the  one  where  the  individual  met  himself  and  his  God 
in  his  closet  to  the  one  where  all  kinds  of  people — 
Christians,  Jews,  infidels  and  skeptics — met  in  the 
mass  meetings  to  listen  to  the  burning  words  of  the 
evangelist,  this  was  enough  to  mark  the  day  as  unique. 
But  business  was  practically  suspended  in  the  middle 


Memorial  Volume.  135 

of  the  working  days  of  the  week.  Christians  have 
long  struggled  in  this  city  for  the  proper  observance  of 
Sunday,  and  the  battle  has  largely  gone  against  them. 
But  now  they  have  snatched  a  day  given  over  to 
worldly  things,  and  consecrated  it  to  spiritual  uses. 

The  meeting  held  this  morning  in  the  Walnut  Hills 
Methodist  Church  was  a  wonderful  testimony  of  the 
fact  that  the  community  of  Walnut  Hills  had  felt  in  a 
remarkable  degree  the  power  of  the  Spirit.  The 
spacious  church  was  crowded  with  men  who  had  left 
their  business,  and  women  who  had  given  up  their 
household  duties.  There  has  been  no  meeting  like  it 
in  all  the  history  of  Walnut  Hills  before.  After  the 
song  service,  Mr.  Mills  invited  the  people  to  express 
their  thankfulness  for  the  outpouring  of  the  Spirit 
already  vouchsafed. 

Men  and  women  rose  and  thanked  the  Lord  that  so 
many  in  their  Bible  classes,  or  homes,  or  neighbor- 
hood had  professed  Christ. 

One  lady  arose  and  said  that  nine  in  her  class  had 
signed  the  cards.  People  in  rapid  succession  testified 
to  their  thankfulness  for  one  and  another  blessing. 

Dr.  McKibbin  said:  "I  want  to  thank  God  that 
the  world  is  coming  to  look  upon  things  eternal  as  they 
should  be  looked  upon." 

Dr.  Simpson  said:  "  I  am  thankful  that  a  number 
of  wives  and  mothers  have  promised  to  use  all  their  in- 
fluence with  their  husbands  and  children  to  bring  them 
to  Christ  during  the  day." 

After  the  testimonies  there  were  a  number  of  short 
prayers  offered  from  overflowing  hearts.  Mr.  Mills  took 
for  his  text  the  words,  "Compel  them  to  come  in," 
and  preached  a  powerful  and  persuasive  sermon. 


136  Mills  Meetings 

Somewhat  over  one  hundred  and  fifty  rose  for 
prayer  at  the  close  of  the  sermon.. 

Mr.  Greenwood  sang  "Jesus  is  Merciful, "  accom- 
panied by  the  congregation  in  the  chorus,  and  the  large 
gathering  slowly  dispersed. 


It  was  planned  to  hold  the  afternoon  services  in  the 
Congregational  Church,  and  at  3:30,  the  appointed 
time,  the  congregation  assembled.  Every  seat  was  oc- 
cupied almost  instantly,  and  half  were  left  standing  up. 
For  ten  minutes  they  continued  to  come  while  the  song 
service  went  on.  The  church  was  packed  to  the  aisles, 
and  the  lines  of  people  in  the  aisles  ran  out  through 
the  doors  to  the  street. 

At  3:40,  Rev,  J.  \V.  Simpson  arose  and  said  that 
the  meeting  would  be  continued  in  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  a  block  away.  He  requested  the  audience  to 
make  the  change  in  as  orderly  a  fashion  as  possible  ; 
but  while  a  great  many  were  obedient  to  the  request, 
the  desire  to  get  a  good  seat  was  strong,  and  there  was 
an  impetuous  rush  up  Locust  street.  It  was  a  case, 
however,  of  the  first  becoming  the  la.st,  and  the  last  the 
first.  Those  who  were  on  the  exterior  of  the  building 
at  the  Congregational  Church  occupied  front  pews  at 
the  Presbyterian,  and  they  who  were  down  in  front  at 
the  former  place  had  to  stand  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
steps  at  the  latter.  Mr.  Mills  preached  from  the  words 
of  St.  John  xi.  28:  "The  Master  is  come,  and  calleth 
for  thee."  These  are  the  words  of  Martha  to  Mary  on 
the  occasion  when  Christ  raised  Lazarus  from  the  dead. 
Mr.  Mills  showed  how  suggestive  was  the  story  of  the 
death  and  resurrection  of  Lazarus  for  Christians  who 
were  having  a  genuine  revival. 


Memorial  Volume. 


137 


Mr.  Mills  drew  many  parallelisms  between  the  story 
of  Lazarus  and  the  features  of  a  genuine  revival.  At 
the  close  of  the  service  several  hundred  people  ex- 
pressed their  desire  to  surrender  themselves  to  the 
divine   Master. 


Again  in  the  evening  was  the  fact  that  Walnut  Hills 
has  yielded  to  the  spell  of  the  evangelist  demonstrated 
by  the  throng  that  crowded  into  the  First  Presbyterian 
Church.  There  were  enough  people  standing  before 
the  doors  just  previous  to  the  time  when  they  were 
opened  to  fill  every  pew  in  the  house.  The  doors  were 
opened  at  7:15  ;  at  7:20  Mr.  Greenwood  stood  upon  the 
platform  and  attempted  to  distribute  the  people  to  a 
little  better  advantage.  "There  are  still  a  few  unoccu- 
pied pew  ends  down  this  way,  friends,"  he  said.  "  You 
will  find  it  easier  to  lean  upon  them  than  to  stand  up. 
Come  down  this  way." 

A  little  later  there  was  some  most  beautiful  and  im- 
pressive singing.  The  hardest  heart  in  that  dense 
crowd  melted  under  its  influence,  and  if  there  was  any- 
body who  did  not  join  in  the  song  he  could  not  be  seen 
from  the  platform.  The  hymn  was  "Jesus  Saves." 
The  choir,  seated  back  of  the  pulpit,  sang  the  words, 
"Sing  above  the  battle  strife,"  and  then  from  the  gal- 
lery, situated  away  in  the  rear  of  the  building,  came 
the  refrain  from  hundreds  of  voices,  "Jesus  saves! 
Jesus  saves!  "  Then  the  choir  took  up  the  burden  of 
the  song: 

Sing  it  softly  through  the  gloom, 

When  the  heart  for  mercy  craves, 
Sing  in  triumph  o'er  the  tomb. 


138  Mills  Meetings 

From  the  gallery: 

Jesus  saves!  Jesus  saves! 

Mr.  Mills  took  for  his  text  the  words  of  the  eighth 
chapter  of  Acts,  a  portion  of  the  twenty-first  verse : 
"Thy  heart  is  not  right  in  the  sight  of  God."  He 
commenced  at  once  to  enumerate  the  classes  of  people 
whose  hearts  were  not  right.  They  that  have  atheistic 
hearts  are  not  right  in  God's  sight.  It  is  a  very  strik- 
ing fact  that  there  are  no  reputable  scientists  to-day 
who  deny  the  existence  of  God.  But  while  men 
with  atheistic  heads  are  rarely  to  be  found,  many  are 
they  who  have  atheistic  hearts. 

"An  idolatrous  heart  is  not  right.  If  there  be  any 
man  here  to-night  who  prefers  in  his  heart  any  one  of 
his  possessions  to  the  love  of  God,  he  is  an  idolator. 

"The  unbelieving  heart  is  not  right.  There  is  no 
such  a  thing  as  a  man's  believing  in  righteousness 
without  believing  in  the  Lord  of  Righteousness.  Belief 
in  Christ  is  the  touchstone  of  a  man's  character,  and 
the  attitude  of  a  man  towards  Christ  shows  exactly 
what  that  man  really  is.  If  you  can  not  bring  your- 
self to  believe,  you  may  be  sure  that  there  is  some- 
thing wrong  about  your  heart — there  is  some  pride, 
some  conceit  that  you  have  not  yet  acknowledged. 

"No  man  can  have  bitterness  in  his  heart  toward 
anybody  and  be  right  toward  God.  Why  do  you  wish 
to  have  such  a  thorn  festering  in  your  heart  ?  Yet  some 
of  you  cling  to  it  as  though  it  was  one  of  your  most 
valuable  possessions. 

"  A  proud  selfish  heart,  a  divided,  variable  heart,  an 
impenitent  heart — none  of  these  are  right  in  the  sight 
of  God.     Satan  can  make  men  do  strange  things  in  this 


Memorial  Volume,  139 

world,  but  the  strangest  thing  is  that  he  can  make  a 
man  proud  of  the  hardness  of  his  heart — proud  that  he 
can  not  be  affected  at  a  time  hke  this. 

"Then  there  is  the  careless,  procrastinating  heart. 
Some  of  you  may  remember  the  allegory  of  '  Satan 
and  the  Revival. '  There  was  a  great  religious  upheaval 
at  a  certain  place,  and  Satan  felt  the  necessity  of  bring- 
ing it  to  an  end.  There  was  a  council  called,  and  one 
devil  proposed  one  course,  and  another  proposed  some- 
thing else.  One  said :  '  I  will  go  down  there  and  say 
to  the  people:  "There  is  no  God  in  heaven,  no  Satan 
in  hell."  Satan  replied  :  "They  will  not  believe  you; 
that  will  not  do. '  And  a  second  devil  said  :  '  I  will  go 
and  tell  them  that  there  is  a  God  and  a  heaven,  but  no 
Satan  and  no  hell."  And  Satan  again  said  that  they 
would  not  believe  that,  and  he  should  not  go.  A  third 
spoke  up  :  '  I  will  go  and  tell  them  that  the  Bible  is  true, 
that  there  is  a  heaven  and  a  hell,  a  God  and  a  Satan. 
But  put  off  your  decision.  There  is  no  hurry  about  mak- 
ing it.  *  And  Satan  cried  :  '  Go  !  Go  !  They  will  believe 
what  you  say.'     Friend,  now  is  the  accepted  time." 

In  the  meeting  last  evening  there  were  hundreds  of 
unconverted  people,  and  Mr.  Mills  recognized  this  fact 
by  requesting  this  class  of  people  to  remain  at  the  after 
meeting.  The  church  members  were  requested  to  re- 
main away  unless  they  brought  with  them  some  uncon- 
verted friend.  As  the  choir  sang  "Just  as  I  Am,  and 
Waiting  Not,"  Mr.  Mill  requested  all  those  who  were 
willing  to  become  Christians  to  stand  up.  Some 
twenty-five  or  thirty  arose  in  response  to  this  request. 
A  little  later  the  cards  were  passed  around,  and  many 
signatures  obtained.  More  than  a  thousand  of  these 
cards  have  been  signed,  and  the  end  is  not  yet. 


146  Mills  Meetings 

EIGHTH  DA  TS  SER  VICE. 
Thursday,  January  28. 

Despite  the  fact  that  Wednesday  was  observed 
by  many  hours  of  prayer  and  service,  the  afternoon 
meeting  held  to-day  in  the  Walnut  Hills  Methodist 
Church  was  the  largest  afternoon  meeting  that  has  yet 
been  held  at  that  place. 

Mr.  Mills  read  from  the  eighth  chapter  of  Acts, 
commencing  with  the  twenty  sixth  verse.  He  took 
his  text  from  the  thirty-fifth  verse :  ' '  And  preached 
unto  him  Jesus." 

At  the  evening  service,  in  the  First  Presbyterian 
Church  of  Walnut  Hills,  Mr.  Mills  faced  an  audience 
that,  as  usual,  filled  every  available  nook  and  corner  of 
the  building.  There  were  very  few  people  there,  evi- 
dently, who  had  not  been  to  some  one  or  more  of  the 
previous  meetings,  and  the  reporter  has  noticed  that 
the  front  pew  is  occupied  by  the  same  people,  almost 
to  an  individual,  from  night  to  night.  Some  people  are 
giving  a  good  deal  of  time  to  these  meetings  who  are 
not  there  as  workers. 

The  evangelist  spoke  from  the  words  to  be  found 
in  the  tenth  chapter  of  Mark,  the  twenty-first  verse; 
"  One  thing  thou  lackest." 


NINTH  DAYS  SERVICE. 

Friday,  January  2Q. 

Mr.  Mills  addressed  the  usual  large  congregation 
to-day  at  the  Walnut  Hills  M.  E.  Church  in  the  after- 
noon, and  at  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  evening. 


Memorial  Volume.  141 

There  was  no  service  on  Saturday. 

On  Sunday  the  services  were  very  impressive,  and 
were  all  conducted  by  Mr.  Mills  in  the  First  Presby- 
terian Church,  corner  of  Gilbert  avenue  and  Locust 
street,  as  follows : 

At  II  A.  M.,  for  men  only  ;  at  3  130  P.  m.,  for  young 
people  only;  at  7:30  p.  m.,  for  non-church  members 
and  friends. 

At  1 1  A.  M.  there  was  service  for  women  only  at 
the  Methodist  Church,  led  by  Dr.  A.  B.  Riggs,  and  a 
similar  service  at  the  same  time  in  the  Baptist  Church, 
on  Kemper  lane,  led  by  Rev.  Wm.  McKibbin. 


WALNUT  HILLS  WOMEN'S  UNION  PRAYER 
MEETINGS. 

Held  in  Connection  With  the  Mills  Meetings. 

In  response  to  a  call  from  the  chairman  of  the 
Committee  on  Devotions  (in  the  First  District),  Rev. 
Wm.  McKibbin,  D.  D.,  who  had  as  his  associates  one 
gentleman  and  lady  from  each  of  the  seven  churches  in 
the  district,  a  meeting  was  held  two  weeks  before  the 
coming  of  the  evangelist  ;  and,  among  other  topics,  the 
one  of  holding  a  woman's  union  prayer  meeting  was 
discussed  and  arranged  for. 

The  first  one  was  held  Sabbath  afternoon,  January 
17th,  in  the  Christian  Church.  This  was  a  large  meet- 
ing, and  as  the  leader,  Mrs.  Corvan,  a  most  godly  wo- 
man, and  efificient  worker  in  the  Methodist  Church, 
read  from  John  xiv .  of  the  mutual  love  between 
Christ    and  his   members,  and   also  of    our    witness- 


142  Mills  Meetings 

bearing,  all  hearts  were  truly   bound  together  at  the 
very   beginning,    and  we  realized  that  we   were  one  ; 
also  that  our  consecration  must  be  entire,  if  we  would 
know  the   peace  and  joy    of  abiding  in  Christ,  as  did 
Miss  Havergal,  when  she  wrote  those  beautiful  lines : 
"  Take  my  Hfe,  dear  Lord,  and  use  it, 
Wholly  thine  so  let  it  be ; 
Filled  each  moment  from  th}^  fullness, 
Moulded,  guided,  ruled  by  thee. 

After  Mr.  Mills  came,  daily  women's  union  prayer 
meetings  were  held  in  the  Methodist  Church,  beginning 
at  2:45,  ^""^  continuing  forty-five  minutes. 

The  first  of  these  was  led  by  Mrs,  Trout,  of  the 
First  Presbyterian  Church  (Walnut  Hills).  She  read 
selections  from  the  Old  and  New  Testaments  bearing 
on  the  subject  of  "  Ministering  Unto,"  and  passed  the 
idea  upon  the  women  of  the  church  in  these  days,  that 
they  were  not  to  sit  idly  by,  enjoying  the  benefits  of 
salvation  all  themselves,  but  were  to  actually  serve  in 
the  Master's  vineyard,  by  giving  it  to  those  who  had  it 
not.  Prayers  and  songs  filled  the  hour,  all  of  which 
were  a  fitting  prelude  of  the  week. 

Tuesday,  Mrs.  Peters,  of  the  Baptist  Church,  was  in 
charge.  She  took  us  very  near  the  cross,  where  we 
felt  that  it  was  for  us,  for  our  crimes,  "  He  groaned 
and  bled  and  died,  and  yet  his  love  had  set  us  free. 

Thursday  hour  was  in  charge  of  Mrs.  Lehman,  of 
the  Christian  Church.  This  was  a  quiet  and  very  im- 
pressive service,  and  as  one  after  another  testified  as  to 
the  result  of  personal  effort,  the  very  heavens  seemed 
to  open  and  pour  out  a  copious  blessing.  It  was  on 
going  out  from  this  meeting  that  one  of  the 
"  Marthas  "    said:    "  I  could  not  get  into  all  the  meet- 


Memorial  Volume.  143 

ings  during  the  week,  but  they  have  been  an  inspira- 
tion to  me  every  day." 

And  now  we  come  to  the  closing  day  of  these  spir- 
itual feasts,  which  was  in  charge  of  Mrs.  Bowman,  of 
the  Baptist  Church ;  and  she,  being  always  full  of  the 
"Holy  Ghost,"  spoke  with  power.  We  felt  that  «// 
were  of  one  mind,  with  one  aim,  and  that  to  do  the 
will  of  our  Father  in  Heaven. 

The  "sisterhood,"  of  the  churches  walked  tosfeth- 
er  as  one,  and  we  feel  and  know  that  this  unity  of  heart 
and  life  must  bear  fruit  in  the  days  to  come.  And 
now  as  we  passed  out  from  these  hallowed  walls  we 
could  again  hear  the  request  from  our  beloved  Master 
to  every  Christian  woman,  as  He  gave  it  Himself  to 
Mary,  the  first  one  on  the  resurrection  morning:  "  Go 
to  my  brethren  and  say  to  them,  I  ascend  to  my 
Father;"  a  command  from  Jesus  Christ  to  woman  to 
proclaim  to  the  world  a  risen  Lord. 


MT.  AUBURN  DISTRICT. 

WHICH   INCLUDED  AVONDALE  AND  CLIFTON. 

In  fulfillment  of  the  plan  set  forth  in  the  introduc- 
tory chapter,  the  field  of  the  work  was  changed  to 
the  district  of  Mt.  Auburn,  which  included  Avondale 
and  Clifton  and  at  the  same  time  the  Covington  Dis- 
trict. The  presence  of  Dr.  J.  Wilbur  Chapman  and 
Geo.  B.  Stebbins,  sketches, of  whom  will  be  found  at 
the  close  of  the  work  in  the  Central  District,  made  it 
possible  to  carry  the  work  on  in  widely  separated  dis- 
tricts. 

The  work  in  these  districts  was  commenced  on 
Monday,  February  i,  1892,  Rev.  B.  Fay  Mills  and 
Mr.  Greenwood  alternating  with  Dr.  J.  Wilbur  Chap- 
man and  Mr.  Stebbins  in  the  services,  thus  giving  both 
districts  the  advantage  of  the  eloquent  sermons  of  both 
pastors. 

The  services  in  the  Mt.  Auburn  District  were  held 
at  the  Mt.  Auburn  Presbyterian  Church,  of  which  Rev. 
Henry  M.  Curtis  is  pastor,  with  the  following  excep- 
tions. 

The  first  service,  on  Monday  afternoon,  was  held  at 
the  Avondale  Presbyterian  Church,  of  which  Rev. 
Thos.  O.  Lowe  is  pastor,  by  Rev.  B.  Fay  Mills,  who 
preached  from  the  text,  "There  is  the  sound  of  an 
abundance  of  rain"   (II.  Kings). 

The  attendance  upon  the  service  was  large,  the 
people  of  Avondale  entering  heartily  into  the  spirit  of 
the  work  so  well  inaugurated  in  Walnut  Hills. 


J-J^-" 


Memorial  Volume.  145 

To  attempt  to  give  all  the  sermons  and  meetings 
held  in  the  different  districts  would  require  the  pages  of 
an  encyclopaedia,  and,  having  given  a  characteristic 
series  of  services  in  one  district,  be  tautological. 

The  Sunday-school  Conference  was  held  at  the  Mt. 
Auburn  Baptist  Church,  Rev.  E.  Armstrong  Ince, 
pastor,  and  was  similar  to  the  services  given  at  the 
Y.  M.  C.  A. 

The  service  on  Sunday  morning,  February  7,  in 
which  Mrs.  Ballington  Booth,  of  London,  England,  the 
noted  Salvation  Army  leader,  addressed  an  audience  of 
ladies,  was  held  at  this  church,  and  was  highly  appreci- 
ated. At  the  request  of  many,  a  considerable  portion 
of  her  words  are  republished  from  the  excellent  report 
of  the  Tivies  5/«r  of  February  8,  1892. 

The  ladies'  prayer  meetings  were  held  at  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church,  corner  Auburn  Avenue  and 
McMillan,  of  which  Rev.  J.  J.  McCabe  is  pastor. 
They  were  largely  attended,  and  there  can  be  no  doubt 
but  that  the  fervent  prayers  of  the  ladies  of  Mt.  Au- 
burn added  to  the  power  of  the  good  work  done  in  this 
district. 

The  last  afternoon  meeting  was  held  at  the  Clifton 
Presbyterian  Church  in  Clifton,  of  which  Dr.  E'.  L. 
Warren  is  pastor.  The  sermon  was  preached  by  Dr. 
J.  Wilbur  Chapman,  from  the  text:  "We  have  left  all 
and  followed  thee"  (Mark  x.  28).  The  attendance  was 
large  and  representative  of  the  wealthiest  families  in 
Cincinnati.  Dr.  Chapman's  sermon  was  eloquent  and 
searching,  and  the  Spirit  of  God  rested  upon  the  hearts 
of  the  people,  who  were  thoroughly  in  sympathy  with 
the  work  and  the  eloquent  ministers  who  addressed 
them. 


146  Mills  Meetings 

The  other  services,  from  Tuesday,  February  2nd,  to 
Wednesday,  February  loth,  held  in  the  evenings  at 
the  Mt.  Auburn  Presbyterian  Church,  vi^ere  attended  by 
audiences  that  demonstrated  the  breadth  of  possibiUty 
that  hes  in  the  work  of  the  Rev.  B.  Fay  Mills  to  teach 
and  touch  for  Christ  people  in  all  ranks  and  conditions 
of  life. 

The  congregations  at  these  meetings  were  from  the 
most  cultured  centers  of  wealth  in  our  city,  and  entered 
heartily  into  the  spirit  of  the  revival  and  added  largely 
to  the  wealth  of  rejoicing  that  ascended  for  many  days, 
as  souls  were  gathered  to  eternal  salvation. 

Mr.  Mills  has  frequently  expressed  as  his  idea  that 
methods  of  work  once  perfected  will  apply  to  all,  and 
he  has  proven  his  idea  by  practical  demonstration. 

Passing  from  one  section  to  another  with  the  same 
methods  and  largely  the  same  sermons,  he  has  in  all 
cases  been  crowned  with  success.  Whether  in  the 
center  of  wealth  and  relative  exclusiveness  or  before 
the  massed  throngs  of  eager  seekers,  he  has  spoken  the 
same  blessed  words  taken  from  the  same  Gospel. 
Surely  he  has  demonstrated  that  the  Gospel  is  for  all 
men  and  all  times. 

The  services  in  the  two  sections  differed  only  in  the 
social  difference  of  the  attendants.  The  people  of  Mt. 
Auburn,  Clifton,  and  Avondale  entered  heartily  into 
the  work  and  filled  the  churches  with  a  cultured  aud- 
ience, who  gladly  heard  and  as  gladly  received  the 
Gospel  of  Jesus  Christ. 

The  following  churches  composed  the  Mt.  Auburn 
District :  Clifton  Presbyterian,  Rev.  E.  L.  Warren,  D. 
D. ,  pastor ;  Avondale  Presbyterian,  Rev.  Thos.  O. 
Lowe ;  Mt.  Auburn  Presbyterian,  Rev.  H.  M.  Curtis ; 


MT.   Al'lUKN    HAl'TIST    CIUKCi: 


Memorial  Volume.  147 

Mt.  Auburn  M.  E.,  Rev.  J.  J.  McCabe ;  Avondale 
M.  E.,  Rev.  J.  W.  Peters;  Mt.  Auburn  Baptist,  Rev.* 
E.  A.  Ince ;  and  Mt.  Auburn  German  M.  E.,  Rev. 
Jno.   Oetjen. 

The  same  general  plan,  fully  shown  in  the  report  of 
Walnut  Hills,  was  observed  in  this  district.  Many  of 
the  sermons  by  Mr.  Mills  were  repeated  here. 

Space  limit  alone  prevents  a  full  report  of  the  ser- 
mons of  Rev.  B.  Fay  Mills  and  his  able  associates,  and 
compels  us  to  the  limitation  of  one  full  sermon  by  Dr. 
J.  Wilbur  Chapman. 


ADDRESS  OF  MRS.    BALLINGTON  BOOTH. 

Delivered  at  Mt.  Auburn  Baptist  Church, 
Sunday,  February  7,  10  a.  m. 

Her  subject  was  "Consecration,"  and  those  who 
faced  her  read  a  thorough  sermon  in  her  pure  face,  which 
they  knew  to  be  the  index  of  her  character,  more  than 
any  she  could  have  preached  in  words.  Seated  on  the 
platform  at  the  left  were  Mrs.  Thane  Miller,  Mrs. 
Bishop  Walden,  Mrs.  Henry  Sage,  Mrs.  Ince,  Mrs.  A. 
J.  Sage,  and  Mrs.  Geo.  Mason ;  on  the  right  were  Mrs. 
Booth,  her  secretary,  Mrs.  Vickery,  and  Capts.  E. 
Heffelman,  A.  Heffelman,  Trvin  and  Widrig. 

Mrs.  Thane  Miller,  after  the  invocation  by  Mrs. 
Walden,  introduced  Mrs.  Vickery,  who  read  for  the 
Scripture  lesson  a  few  verses  from  Philippians  ii., 
beginning  with  the  fifth.  Capt.  Irvin  led  in  prayer. 
Then  the  eyes  of  all  were  fixed  upon  the  girlish  figure 
of  Mrs.   Booth  as  she    advanced    to  the  front  of  the 


148  Mills  Meetings 

platform  and  in  a  sweet  voice,  pitched  at  a  natural  key, 
began  to  speak : 

"My  heart  has  been  so  very  full  this  morning  as  I 
have  been  sitting  here  on  the  platform  and  lifting  it  to 
God,  that  I  now  feel  that  my  great  difficulty  will  be  to 
put  into  words  all  that  I  have  to  say.  I  sometimes 
think  that  it  would  be  a  very  blessed  thing  if  we  could 
lay  our  hearts  open  that  people  might  see  what  was 
within  them  ;  it  would  be  so  much  better  than  to  place 
our  dependence  upon  weak  words. 

"  I  am  glad  to  be  able  to  speak  to  an  audience 
composed  of  members  of  my  own  sex,  for  I  believe 
that  God  has  a  great  mission  for  the  women  of  this 
latter  part  of  the  ninteenth  century.  When  we  think 
of  the  wonderful  gifts  that  God  has  given  to  women  of 
sympathy  and  limitless  love,  of  patience  and  infinite 
tact,  it  seems  strange  that  for  so  many  ages  she  should 
have  been  pushed  into  the  background,  where  she 
could  have  no  exercise  for  these  faculties.  Foi  she 
may,  indeed,  be  one  of  God's  most  powerful  agents; 
she  may  go  out  and  do  Christ's  work  in  saving  and 
redeeming  fallen  humanity,  as  none  others  can.  Some- 
times people  say  that  because  woman  has  such  a 
capacity  for  suffering  and  is  physically  so  weak,  her 
place  should  be  one  of  safety  and  comfort.  *  Put  her,' 
they  say,  'where  she  can  suffer  no  harm.'  But  I  know 
that  God  can  enable  us  to  go  everywhere  to  fight  and 
to  die  in  the  forefront  of  battle.  When .  we  turn  the  - 
pages  of  history  we  find  examples  enough  of  what 
woman  can  do.  As  I  look  "back  my  thoughts  rest 
upon  one  woman  who  was  able  to  do  and  to  dare. 
Surrounded  by  her  people  in  the  market-place,  when 
others  acted  the  part  of  cravens,  she  stood  boldly  up 


Memorial  Volume.  149 

and  said  that  she  would  take  the  sword  of  her  fore- 
fathers and  go  forth  to  battle.  With  one  accord  her 
countrymen  rose  to  her  support,  and  a  little  later  they 
placed  upon  her  the  iron  crown  of  Hungary. 

"  We  can  rise  in  our  weakness  and  place  our  hands 
in  those  of  the  great  Source  of  strength  and  say : 
*  Lord,  we  will  be  Thy  warriors ;  we  will  snatch  Thy 
jewels  from  the  terrible  places  into  which  they  have 
iallen,  and  will  return  them  to  Thee  that  they  may 
shine  brightly  in  Thy  diadem.'  As  a  member  of  the 
Salvation  Army,  and  in  view  of  its  history,  I  have  a 
right  to  speak  of  what  woman  can  accomplish  in  bat- 
tling. I  know  that  God  can  make  a  great  deal  out  of 
poor  broken  hearts.  The  more  broken  they  are  the 
more  beautiful  they  can  be  made.  Sometimes  people 
say  to  us,  '  You  talk  of  going  down  into  the  slums 
where  virtue  does  not  exist  and  sobriety  is  not  known. 
If  you  get  such  people  to  listen  to  you  what  can  you 
do  with  them  ?'  There  is  a  stone,  of  which  I  am  very 
fond,  and  which  I  used  to  wear  before  I  gave  up  all  my 
jewelry  for  Christ's  sake.  It  is  a  stone  that  has  no 
color  properly  of  its  own.  It  is  the  opal.  Yet  when 
you  hold  it  up  in  the  path  of  a  sunbeam  it  reflects  all 
the  colors  of  the  rainbow.  Without  light  it  shines  not 
at  all  ;  with  light  it  glows  with  a  radiance  surpassing 
that  of  all  other  gems.  Where  do  these  colors  come 
from  ?  Oh,  friends,  this  opal  is  a  stone  with  a  broken 
heart.  Just  so,  broken  hearted  humanity.  If  the 
light  be  poured  upon  it,  it  will  shine  with  a  great  and 
unexpected  beauty ;  the  greater  because  unexpected. 

"In  the  Salvation  Army  we  know  what  a  woman 
can  do.  Whom  do  we  send  to  the  lowest  and  vilest 
places  in  the  slums  of  our  great  cities  ?     A  woman. 


150  Mills  Meetings 

We  send  her  alone  with  her  God  and  a  companion  of 
her  own  sex,  and  we  find  in  the  worst  places  where 
humanity  lies  rotting,  where  outcasts  are  dying  upon 
straw,  where  the  houses  are  more  like  hells  than  like 
homes,  that  a  woman  can  do  what  man  could  not  do. 
Ah  !  God  has  given  some  of  our  women  a  wonderful 
power  to  help  and  uplift.  He  can  make  her  the  lion 
tamer.  Often,  indeed,  does  she  quell  the  turbulence 
of  d/'unken,  reeling  men  when  nobody  else  could, 
through  the  power  from  on  high.  As  I  stand  here  and 
think  of  the  great  possibilities  that  lie  in  your  natures, 
I  long  for  words  to  make  you  realize  it  as  I  do. 

"  The  great  thing  for  us  to  do  is  to  consecrate  our- 
selves. I  hope  to  speak  right  to  your  hearts  this 
morning.  Have  you  and  I  not  known  the  sorrows  and 
joys  of  womanhood  ?  Have  we  not  stood  at  the  bed- 
side of  a  dying  mother  ?     I  have. 

**  Have  we  not,  many  ot  us,  stood  beside  a  mother's 
grave  and  turned  away  with  a  feeling  that  never  again 
we  should  know  what  comfort  meant  ?  I  have.  I  re- 
member that  when  I  went  into  the  room  where  my 
dead  mother  lay,  and  knelt  down  by  the  bier  crying 
desperately  and  pitcously,  I  heard  a  voice  which  said 
to  me :  *  As  one  whom  her  mother  comforted,  so  will  I 
comfort  thee.' 

' '  Have  we  not,  many  of  us,  knelt  at  the  graves  of 
our  first  born  ?  I  have.  Do  we  not,  many  of  us,  when 
we  go  home,  twine  our  hands  in  the  golden  locks  of 
some  baby  boy  or  girl  that  is  still  left  to  us,  and  pray 
that  we  may  be  more  worthy  mothers  ?  I  do.  And 
so  we  have  but  one  heart  to-day ;  we  want  to  be  ideal 
wives  and  mothers.  Let  us  pray  to  be  not  only  like 
our   mothers  before  us,  but  something   even    higher. 


Memorial  Volume.  151 

Let  us  say  :  '  Lord,  make  me  a  woman  like  after  Thy 
ideal  ?  And  let  me  go  out  and  do  Thy  work,  and  not 
my  own.  Let  me  go  to  souls  that  are  now  wandering  in 
the  desert,  and  show  them  where  the  green  pastures  lie. ' 

"There  is  a  picture  that  I  always  love  to  look  at, 
love  to  think  of — a  picture  that  I  once  saw  in  the 
Louvre,  in  which  Christ  is  represented  as  nailed  to  a 
hard  wooden  cross.  At  the  feet  of  the  Lord  there 
kneels  a  woman.  To  embrace  the  Lord's  feet  she  had 
to  put  her  arms  about  the  cross.  So  it  is  with  us  to-day. 
We  all  wish  to  kiss  the  feet  of  Jesus,  but  we  must  un- 
derstand that  we  can  not  do  this  without  embracing  the 
cross.  It  will  mean  some  blood  ;  it  will  mean  some 
sharp  thorns  ;  it  will  mean  some  wounds ;  but  I  tell 
you  it  also  means  some  joy,  and  a  glory  that  the  very 
angels  would  rejoice  in. 

"It  seems  to  me  that  there  are  some  essentials 
which  Christ  has  laid  down  for  us,  if  we  would  fulfill 
our  woman's  mission.  Alas,  how  many  hands  grow 
weary,  how  many  acres  of  God's  vineyard  have  gone 
to  waste  and  to  weeds  because  so  many  have  started 
out  without  understanding  what  God  wants  of  them. 
It  seems  to  me  that  the  religion  this  nineteenth  century 
needs — that  which  women  should  be  willing  to  spread — 
is  a  religion  of  light,  which  people  can  see  and  take 
hold  of  in  the  night  time  and  in  the  darkness.  It  seems 
to  me  farcical  for  people  to  talk  about  letting  their 
light  shine  when  there  is  plenty  of  light  about  them, 
and  letting  it  vanish  when  they  pass  from  a  Christian 
company  into  that  of  the  skeptical  and  vicious.  That 
is  not  a  Christ  light  that  goes  out  in  darkness.  My 
mind  goes  back,  as  I  speak,  to  our  army  work  in 
Switzerland.      What  a  work  we   did  there !     We  were 


152  Mills  Meetings 

hounded  from  place  to  place  by  the  police,  and  it 
seemed  as  though  ?.ll  the  powers  of  hell  were  leagued 
against  us  to  thwart  us  at  every  step.  We  made  six 
thousand  converts  in  a  short  time,  but  we  endured  all 
kinds  of  persecution. 

"Finally  my  dear  sister,  Miss  Booth,  and  I  took 
occasion  to  rest  for  a  few  days  in  one  of  the  Swiss 
castles.  When  it  was  light  we  had  to  keep  in  close 
confinement  for  fear  that  the  police  would  ferret  us  out 
and  drive  us  away.  But  at  night,  when  it  got  very 
dark,  we  would  walk  up  and  down  the  mountain  roads, 
and  we  used  to  amuse  ourselves  by  chasing  the  little 
glow-worms.  When  we  caught  one  we  would  fasten 
jt  in  our  hats,  that  we  might  see  each  other  afar  off.  But 
we  experienced  great  difficulty  in  capturing  these  glow- 
worms. Many  a  time  I  would  tiptoe  carefully  up  to 
one,  and  then  when  I  was  about  to  grasp  it  its  light 
would  disappear,  and  I  would  not  know  where  to  put 
my  hand. 

"  God  does  not  want  any  glow-worm  saints.  He 
wants  the  light  to  be  one  that  is  true,  steady  and  con- 
stant. What  would  be  the  use  of  a  lighthouse  that 
sent  out  the  electric  spark  by  day  and  shut  down  by 
night  ?  But  God  can  shine  down  into  our  hearts  and 
kindle  a  light  that  shall  shine  day  in  and  day  out. 

"  I  think  I  hear  some  of  you  saying:  'Ah,  you 
talk  about  going  into  the  slums  and  working  with  the 
degraded.'  No,  I  do  not.  God  knows  that  in  some  of 
our  little  circles  of  society  there  is  darkness  enough. 
I  do  not  refer  to  the  darkness  of  vice  like  that  to  be 
found  in  the  slums,  but  I  speak  of  the  darkness  in  the 
homes  where  there  is  no  Christ,  where  there  is  no  real 
Christian  living. 


Memorial  Volume.  153 

"There  is  one  way  by  which  the  diamond  can 
always  be  distinguished  from  paste.  Hold  it  up  in  the 
light,  and  the  true  gem  will  give  out  a  delicate  blue 
sparkling  light  that  the  imitation  can  never  give.  So 
the  world  can  tell  the  true  Christian  from  the  false.  In 
the  day  of  test  the  former's  light  shines  clearer  and 
clearer,  while  that  of  the  latter  grows  dim  and  lack- 
lustre. You  say  that  you  can  not  shine  ?  Well,  you 
can  reflect,  you  can  shine  back  the  love  of  Jesus  that 
is  in  you.  To  be  sure,  not  all  hearts  have  the  power 
of  reflecting.  Only  the  pure  heart  'can  shine,'  and  I 
mean  by  purity,  the  purity  of  holiness  which  God  can 
give,  by  which  we  are  kept  not  only  from  the  great 
sins  which  can  not  be  named  here,  but  from  the  many 
little  things  that  can  be  done  and  said  and  which  leave 
a  scar.  I  found  in  my  own  experience  that  I  got  no 
help  or  comfort  until  I  came  and  laid  myself  upon  God's 
altar.  For  ten  years  he  has  led  me  in  his  service,  and 
I  promise  you  that  all  of  your  doubts  will  be  settled  if 
you  only  once  consecrate  yourselves  to  Him. 

"  Of  late  years  I  have  given  my  attention  during 
my  spare  hours  to  the  study  of  antiseptic  surgery.  At 
first  my  heart  recoiled  from  the  work,  but  I  have  mas- 
tered this  distaste  and  have  gained  many  wonderful 
lessons  at  the  surgeon's  table.  I  have  noticed  many 
analogies  between  the  work  of  the  surgeons  and  that 
of  the  Salvation  Army.  The  surgeon  has  to  have  very 
clean  hands  before  he  can  undertake  an  operation,  and 
his  instruments  have  to  be  scrubbed  and  washed  in  var- 
ious cleansing  and  disinfecting  solutions.  And  the 
surgeon's  attendant  has  to  prepare  his  hands  before  he 
can  handle  the  instruments.  If  one  of  the  instruments 
happens  to  be  brought  accidentally  in  contact  with  the 


154  Mills  Meetings 

clothing  of  the  patient  it  is  rendered  useless  for  the 
time  being. 

"  And  so  we  militant  Christians  must  become  pure. 
No  effort  of  our  own,  no  amount  of  resolution  can 
make  us  pure  enough  for  service.  If  we  are  to  be  in- 
struments, we  must  be  passed  through  the  fires  of  pur- 
ification. If  we  are  not  pure  as  God  can  make  us  pure 
how  dare  we  go  out  to  those  who  are  impure  ?  They 
would  say  to  us,  'Physician,  heal  thyself.'  Worse  than 
that,  as  an  unclean  knife  might  convey  a  poisonous 
germ  to  a  patient's  system,  so  we,  being  unclean, 
might  poison  another's  soul. 

"There  is  a  great  antiseptic  that  can  make  us 
pure — the  precious  blood  of  Jesus  Christ — the  blood 
that  was  shed  on  Calvary.  Washed  in  this,  we  can  go 
out  into  the  world,  and  it  will  recognize  that  we  are  in 
it,  but  not  of  it,  and  we  can  feel  that  we  are  supported 
by  the  power  of  purity.  I  knew  once  of  a  surgeon 
who  undertook  to  perform  an  operation  upon  a  man 
whose  system  was  full  of  a  malignant  poison.  He  had 
a  little  skin  bruise  on  his  hand,  but  it  was  so  tiny  that 
he  thought  nothing  about  it.  After  the  operation  the 
little  prick  began  to  smart,  and  soon  after  it  began  to 
fester.  He  came  very  near  losing  his  arm  from  that 
little  act  of  carelessness.  And  so  it  seems  to  me  that 
if  we  have  allowed  our  own  hearts  to  entertain  any- 
thing inconsistent  with  our  professions,  we  are  likely 
to  become  contaminated  with  the  things  of  the  world, 
which  we  go  out  to  overcome,  and  which  are  antago- 
nistic to  the  things  of  Christ. 

"The  Christian  without  the  power  of  God  is  like 
the  beautiful  machine  without  the  motor,  and  the 
acquisition  of  this  power  is  not  so  long  a  process  if  the 


Memorial  Volume.  155 

heart  is  once  prepared.  Even  before  we  go  out  of  this 
room  the  power  of  the  Holy  Ghost  may  come  to  us  if 
we  are  willing. 

"But  it  is  useless  to  talk  to  those  that  are  fettered 
about  this  power.  If  you  go  to  a  man  who  is  chained 
to  a  stone  in  a  prison  and  tell  him  that  he  has  the 
power  to  run,  he  laughs  at  you ;  his  limbs  are  bound. 
And  so  it  is  in  regard  to  the  Christian  life.  There  are 
some  who  are  fettered,  and  until  these  fetters  are  re- 
moved it  is  useless  to  talk.  But  the  blessed  Christ  can 
remove  these  shackles. 

"The  power  of  all  powers  is  the  power  of  love. 
You  can  talk  about  everything  else  on  earth  that  is 
good,  but  you  will  mention  nothing  equal  to  love.  We 
know  how  that  can  break  what  otherwise  never  could 
be  broken.  And  so  the  love  of  God  can  break  the 
strongest  fetters  that  bind. 

"What  a  responsibility  there  is  upon  each  one  of 
us !  There  are  precious  little  feet  that  are  to  travel 
along  the  paths  we  are  treading.  Ah  !  we  must  tread 
in  the  path  of  purity!  A  little  while  ago  I  was 
spending  a  day  at  home  with  my  little  baby  boy.  How 
many  lessons  he  teaches  me !  Although  he  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Salvation  Army  in  spirit  as  much  as  a  four- 
year-old  boy  can  be,  yet  he  is  like  all  other  children — 
fond  of  mischief.  I  feel  that  I  have  to  be  very  careful 
with  him  for  fear  that  people  may  say  that  my  work  as 
a  Salvationist  has  interfered  with  the  proper  perform- 
ance of  the  duties  which,  as  a  mother,  I  owe  to  my 
boy.  And  as  my  mother-in-law  brought  up  her  eight 
children  so  that  they  all  unhesitatingly  joined  in  the 
work  of  the  Salvation  Army,  so  I  mean  to  bring  up  my 
boy.      Well,    this  afternoon,  when   I  went  upstairs,   I 


156  Mills  Meetings 

found  him  sitting  up  in  his  cot,  and  there  was  a  mis- 
chievous gleam  in  his  eyes.  I  soon  found  out  what  he 
had  done.  It  was  only  a  little  thing,  but  I  felt  that  I 
must  punish  him  for  it.  I  shook  him  a  little,  and  he 
began  to  cry  in  an  ugly  way.  It  was  a  real  naughty 
cry.  You  are  mothers,  and  you  know  what  I  mean. 
Finally  I  leaned  over  the  cot  and  said,  'You  make 
Dado  very,  very  sad ;  you  will  break  my  heart.  Dado 
may  go  to  heaven,  and  then  you  will  feel  very  sorry.' 
And  then  the  little  fellow  melted  and  threw  his  arms 
around  my  neck  and  cried,  '  I  am  going  with  Dado, 
and  I  want  to  go  by  the  angels'  way.'  As  I  turned 
away  I  thought  how  blessed  it  would  be  if  we  could  go 
together  and  along  '  the  angels'  way. ' 

' '  Those  who  find  the  truth  in  this  book  [laying  her 
hand  on  the  Bible]  must  live  lives  of  such  purity  that 
we  shall  lead  not  only  our  children  but  every  one  along 
the  right  path.  Let  us  not  be  selfish.  A  woman,  to 
be  what  God  would  have  her  be,  must  be  very  un- 
selfish. 

"And  now,  in  conclusion,  I  wish  to  be  very  personal 
with  you.  I  wish  to  ask  if  there  are  some  of  you  who 
are  willing  to  consecrate  yourselves  wholly  to  God.  I 
do  not  know  just  how  you  conduct  these  meetings,  but 
at  the  end  of  some  of  our  Salvation  Army  meetings  we 
have  had  hundreds  stand  up  in  testimony  of  their  will- 
ingness to  consecrate  themselves  to  God 's  service. 
When  I  confessed  Christ  I  stood  up  before  four  thou- 
sand people.  Will  those  who  feel  that  their  lives  have 
not  been  fully  consecrated  stand  up  ?  [Several  stood 
up].  Ah,  there  should  be  twenty  or  thirty.  I  want 
those  to  rise  who  feel  that  their  lives  have  not  been  as 
useful  to  Christ  as  they  might  have  been,  those  whose 


Memorial  Volume,  157 

steps  have  sometimes  faltered.  [Twenty  or  more  arose]. 
I  think  that  women  have  to  overcome  a  natural  timidity 
about  doing  anything  in  public.  Not  many  of  them 
have  reached  the  point  where  they  are  willing  to  eudure 
to  be  pointed  out  as  eccentric  or  peculiar.  They  fear 
that  the  world  may  call  them  fools  or  cranks.  Can  not 
you  overcome  this  feeling?"  (Enough  stood  up  to 
make  the  number  standing  about  one  hundred). 

Mrs.   Booth  prayed  fervently,   and  the  congregation 
was  dismissed  after  the  singing  of  the  choir : 

"Though  your  sins  be  as  scarlet, 
They  shall  be  as  white  as  snow." 


SERMON, 

Preached  in  the  Mount  Auburn  Presbyterian  Church, 
,          Cincinnati,  O.,  February  3,  1892. 

by  the  rev.  j.  wilbur  chapman. 

Text.  "See  that  we  receive  the  full  reward." — II.  John  8. 

The  rewards  of  a  Christian  are  before  him  as  an  in- 
spiration, and,  while  we  ought  not  to  work  for  them 
alone,  we  ought  not  to  lose  sight  of  them. 

I  have  been  greatly  impressed  with  the  subject  of 
crowns,  and  greatly  helped  in  view  of  the  fact  that, 
while  I  may  have  one  of  them  as  a  reward,  it  is  possi- 
ble for  me  to  have  them  all.  Any  crown  is  in  itself 
interesting.  The  crown  of  Ivan  was  studded  with  one 
hundred  and  forty-eight  diamonds  ;  the  crown  of  Peter 
with  one  hundred  and  eighty-seven  ;  the  crown  of  Im- 
perial Russia,  twenty-five  hundred ;  and  the  crown  of 
France,  five  thousand  and  fifty-two.     Can  you  imagine 


158  Mills  Meetings 

their  splendor?    And  yet  the  crown  of  the  poorest  saint 
is  infinitely  better. 

It  is  not  a  question  of  our  salvation.  Faith  as  a 
grain  of  mustard  seed  can  save  us.  It  is  a  question  of 
rewards  given  to  us  because  of  faithfulness  in  service. 
There  have  been  rewards  given  men  here.  Captain 
David  Gun,  of  the  battle  at  Agincourt,  was  wounded, 
and  King  Henry  V.  knighted  him  as  he  lay.  Gara- 
baldi,  finding  one  of  his  men  dying  in  the  hospital,  pro- 
moted him  that  he  might  die  as  an  officer.  But  all 
things  are  as  nothing  when  compared  with  the  rewards 
of  a  Christian. 

I  have  five  crowns  to  present  to  you  as  an  inspira- 
tion. 

I.  The  crown  of  life.  James  i.  12:  "Blessed  is 
the  man  that  endureth  temptation,  for  when  he  is  tried 
he  shall  receive  the  crown  of  life." 

This  is  the  martyr's  crown.  What  a  transition  for 
Paul,  from  the  dungeon  to  the  presence  of  Christ.  For 
Latimer,  from  the  stake  to  the  throne.  For  Robert 
Hall,  from  insanity  to  glory.  And  what  a  transition  it 
will  be  for  some  of  us. 

There  is  a  great  deal  of  emphasis  to  be  placed  upon 
the  word  '  endure.  *  Many  a  saint  can  stand  at  the 
judgment  seat  of  Chrict,  and  say  they  had  done  almost 
nothing  for  Christ.  They  had  had  the  aching  head, 
the  weak  side,  the  irritated  lung ;  they  could  only  say 
they  had  done  the  best  they  could,  as  they  tried  to  be 
peaceful  and  patient ;  they  could  not  enter  into  the 
thickest  of  the  fight.  They  were  rarely  in  the  meetings. 
Their  voices  were  still  where  others  were  heard.  All 
they  could  do  was  to  pray,  like  a  man  who  prayed  for 
his  pastor   for  fourteen    years.      He  never  heard    him 


Memorial  Volume.  159 

preach  in  all  the  time,  but  each  year  there  were  souls 
converted  to  Christ  by  the  score.  The  people  could 
not  understand  the  secret  of  it.  The  minister  did  not 
know  himself,  until  when  he  was  leaving  his  pastorate, 
saying  good-by  to  all  the  people,  he  met  this  man  in 
his  home,  when  he  said :  ' '  Pastor,  I  have  never  heard 
you  preach  in  all  these  years,  but  there  has  never  been 
a  day  that  I  have  not  prayed  God  earnestly  for  a  bless- 
ing upon  your  ministry."  Then  the  secret  was  out. 
It  is  great  praying  that  makes  great  preaching.  And 
for  those  who  are  thus-faithful  there  is  a  crown  of  life. 
There  are  those  whose  talents  are  small,  whose  gilts 
are  few,  whose  position  is  humble,  who  can  only  give 
the  cup  of  cold  water,  and  speak  the  kind  word,  but  to 
all  such  he  will  say,  "  Inasmuch  as  ye  did  it  unto  the 
least  of  these,  ye  did  it  unto  me." 

A  Russian  soldier  on  picket  duty  was  found  by  a 
peasant  without  an  overcoat.  The  peasant  took  off  his 
own  great  coat,  gave  it  to  the  soldier,  and  hurried  home. 
Chilled  through  and  through  by  the  Russian  winter,  in 
a  little  time  he  died,  but,  before  he  died,  he  had  a  dream 
in  which  he  seemed  to  stand  in  the  very  presence  of 
Christ.  When  he  had  opened  his  eyes  he  told  his 
friends  that  he  had  seen  the  Master.  "And  the  stran- 
gest thing,"  he  said,  "  Ke  had  near  to  Him  my  great 
coat,  and  when  I  asked  Him  what  it  meant,  He  simply 
said  these  words,   'I  was  naked,  and  ye  clothed  me.'  " 

Never  a  kind  word,  a  cup  of  cold  water,  a  pleasant 
smile,  an  earnest  prayer  given  in  the  name  of  the  Lord 
Jesus,  but  will  meet  a  reward,  and  the  reward  will  be 
the  crown  of  life. 

2.  The  incorruptible  crown  (I.  Cor.  ix,  5).  This  is  ex- 
actly the  opposite  of  the  first,  and  is  for  the  one  pos- 


i6o  Mills  Meetings 

sessed  of  an  aggressive  spirit.  Paul  said  there  are 
those  who  are  striving  for  a  corruptible  crown,  but  he 
was  seeking  the  one  incorruptible.  It  was  the  same 
spirit  possessed  him  when  he  said  :  ' '  And  now,  behold, 
I  go  bound  in  the  spirit  unto  Jerusalem  ;"  and  again  : 
"This  one  thing  I  do  ;"  and  again  :  "Laying aside  every 
weight  and  the  sin  which  doth  so  easily  beset  us;"  and 
still  again :  "  I  am  willing  to  suffer  the  loss  of  all  things. " 

It  is  the  same  spirit  which  possessed  Rowland  Hill 
when  he  saw  a  gravel  bank  which  had  caved  in  on  the 
workman,  and  shouted  until  they  heard  his  voice  a  mile 
away.  It  is  the  spirit  that  animated  the  son  of  Cresus ; 
he  was  dumb,  but  he  saw  his  father's  life  in  danger,  and 
he  cried  out  in  such  agony  that  the  strings  were  snapped 
that  imprisoned  his  speech,  and  he  said,  "O  kill  not 
the  king."  It  is  the  spirit  we  should  have  if  we  but 
realize  the  lost  condition  of  men  about  us. 

The  church  is  all  wrong  in  its  ideas  if  it  says  we  have 
opened  our  doors,  let  the  people  come  in  if  they  will; 
the  Gospel  is  free,  the  singing  is  attractive.  This  is  not 
the  spirit  of  the  Master,  for  He  said  that  we  must  go 
out  after  the  lost  until  we  find  them.  It  is  a  very 
strong  hint  that  if  one  method  will  not  attract  men  to 
Christ,  it  should  give  way  to  another. 

Chalmers  was  noted  for  his  perfect  diction.  In 
speaking,  his  sentences  were  like  arrows  of  light;  they 
shone  with  all  the  perfection  and  beauty  of  jewels;  but 
they  were  as  cold  as  ice,  and  as  lifeless  as  stone.  Chal- 
mers' heart  became  fired  with  zeal  for  souls  and  with 
the  love  of  God,  and  he  forgot  everything  else  in  his 
preaching  save  that  men  were  lost  and  that  he  had  been 
sent  to  warn  them,  and  in  his  latter  days  hundreds  and 
thousands  were  born  into  the  kingdom. 


;1'IKST    PRl'.Sl'.V'ri'.KIAX    ClirkCII,  C<  i\-l  XC.ToN  ,    K\ 


Memorial  Volume.  i6i 

It  is  said  that  the  great  conflagration  in  London 
could  have  been  easily  stopped  if  the  firemen  could 
have  proceeded  against  it,  but  they  could  not  do  so 
until  they  had  received  the  order  from  the  lord  mayor, 
ane  he  could  not  give  the  order  until  he  had  entered 
his  office,  seated  himself  in  his  official  chair,  donned  the 
robes  of  office,  and  in  the  regular  way  sent  forth  the 
message  for  them  to  fight  the  flames.  By  that  time 
they  were  alftiost  beyond  control.  We  sometimes  find 
this  spirit  in  the  church  of  to-day.  There  is  such  a 
thing  as  a  church  being  almost  dead  because  of  dignity 
and  conservatism,  and  it  is  an  inspiration  to  know  that 
there  is  a  crown  awaiting  a  man  whose  spirit  is  just 
exactly  opposite. 

3.  The  crown  of  rejoicing  (I.  Thess.  ii.  9).  If 
there  is  one  more  to  be  desired  than  another,  to  me  it 
would  be  this  one,  for  it  may  be  called  the  soul-win-, 
ner's  crown.  Paul  says,  "For  what  is  our  hope,  our 
joy,  our  crown  of  rejoicing?  are  not  even  ye  ?"  And  by 
this  he  meant  to  say  that  the  crown  of  rejoicing  was  to 
be  found  in  the  Thessalonians  themselves,  for  he  had 
won  them  to  Christ. 

That  is  the  crown  Wesley  is  to  wear,  also  Baxter, 
Whitfield,  Edwards,  and  Moody.  I  beseech  you  that 
you  wear  it  yourself.  It  is  the  crown  the  sainted  Spur- 
geon  wears  to-day,  for  it  is  said  that  he  led  thirteen 
thousand  into  the  kingdom  in  his  own  church,  and  that 
is  but  the  beginning  of  the  number  throughout  the 
world. 

This  country  is  not  like  England,  rich  in  monu- 
ments cut  from  stone,  but  the  best  monuments  in  Eng- 
land are  not  these,  but  the  lives  of  Wickliffe,  Howard, 
Clarkson,  Livingstone,  and  Carey,   and  such  a  monu- 


i62  Mills  Meetings 

ment  each  one  of  us  may  have  if  we  are  but  seeking  to 
lead  others  to  God. 

There  is  no  service  that  pays  so  well  in  this  world. 
One  of  the  best  Sunday-school  workers  in  this  country 
is  Mr.  Ralph  Wells.  At  one'  time  he  told  me  the  story 
of  the  beginning  of  his  work.  He  had  just  been  con- 
verted, and  bad  a  desire  to  teach  in  a  Sunday-school. 
He  asked  the  superintendent  to  give  him  a  class,  but 
he  declined.  He  asked  him  again,  and  he  said  "  No. "  A 
third  time  he  told  him  that  he  would  give  him  a  place 
to  teach  if  he  would  get  his  own  class,  and  so  the  young 
man  started  out.  Going  first  to  a  house  not  far  away,  he 
made  his  errand  known  to  the  lady  of  the  house,  and 
asked  her  if  her  boy  could  come  to  Sunday-school. 
She  quickly  answered  "  No,"  that  she  was  afraid  to  have 
him  go  because  of  the  teaching  he  might  receive. 
"Then,"  said  Mr.  Wells,  "  I  wish  I  had  not  thought 
of  the  work." 

Finally  she  said  to  him,  "Who  will  teach  him?" 
"Then,"  said  he,  "I  was  more  uncomfortable  than 
ever."  Finally  he  said,  "I  spoke  out,  saying,  '  Well, 
I'm  going  to  teach  him,'  "  and  there  was  something  in 
the  way  he  said  it  that  so  impressed  the  mother  that 
she  said,  "Next  Sunday  the  boy  shall  be  there."  He 
came.  The  young  teacher  touched  his  heart,  and  as  a 
result  he  gave  himself  to  Christ. 

Said  Mr.  Wells  to  me:  "  I  want  to  tell  you  another 
story.  Only  a  little  time  ago  I  was  called  to  the  bed- 
side of  a  young  man  who  was  dying.  His  wife  was 
sitting  near  to  him,  sobbing  as  if  her  heart  would  break. 
He  motioned  to  me  to  come  nearer  to  him,  and  then  to 
lift  him  up,  and  I  put  my  arms  underneath  him,  and 
drew  his  head  close  to  my  breast.     Then  he   began  to 


Memorial  Volume.  163 

talk,  and  among  other  things  he  said  :  '  Teacher,  does  n't 
it  pay,  this  blessed  service  in  which  we  have  been  en- 
gaged' and  with  his  last  words  touching  the  story  of 
his  life  work,  he  went  out  into  the  eternity.  And," 
said  Mr.  Wells,  "  that  was  a  boy  I  first  led  to  Christ. 
He  was  my  associate  in  Sunday-school  work.  God 
had  mightily  used  us  in  leading  others  into  the 
Kingdom.'' 

The  great  Sunday-school  worker  was  still  for  a  mo- 
ment, and  then  he  said  :  "  Pay  ?  There  is  no  service  in 
all  this  world  that  can  pay  like  it.  I  had  rather  feel 
the  joy  that  comes  as  a  result  of  leading  one  soul  to 
Christ,  than  to  have  anything  that  the  world  could 
give.  But  there  is  this  to  be  remembered,  that  we  not 
only  receive  our  reward  here — we  shall  also  have  a 
crown  of  rejoicing. " 

4.  A  crown  of  glory  (I.  Peter  v.  4.)  "But  when 
the  chief  shepherd  shall  appear,  ye  shall  receive  the 
crown  of  glory. "  This  reward  is  for  those  who  are  the 
shepherds  of  the  flock.  Some  would  call  them  the  pas- 
tors, but  there  should  be  more  pa.stors  in  the  church 
than  simply  the  man  who  preaches  the  gospel.  I  have 
sixteen  elders  in  my  own  church,  and  I  count  them  as 
shepherds  of  the  flock,  and  God  looks  upon  them  in  the 
same  way.  There  are  many  members  of  a  church  who 
could  do  this  same  work  that  God  expects.  It  will  be 
a  happy  day  for  us  when  we  reach  the  time  when  the 
members  of  the  church  will  feel  themselves  called  upon 
to  hold  up  those  who  are  the  babes  in  Christ. 

Many  people  are  afraid  of  the  results  of  the  revivals. 
This  always  depends  upon  the  condition  of  the  church. 
If  we  let  the  people  come  in,  and  do  nothing  to  hold 
them,  they  will  drift  out.     If  the  church   is  spiritual. 


104  Mills  Meetings 

the  new  members  will  be  spiritual.  If  it  is  worldly, 
they  will  take  upon  themselves  the  same  character. 
The  rule  is  that  new  members  will  always  average  after 
the  old  ones.  The  greatest  work  of  the  church  is  at 
the  time  when  the  greatest  number  is  being  received. 
I  can  remember  when  my  own  little  girl  was  just  be- 
ginning to  walk,  that  we  were  obliged  to  hold  our  arms 
about  her  as  she  took  her  first  steps,  but  now  we  never 
think  of  doing  it.  She  can  run  and  not  be  weary,  and 
the  promise  of  God's  word  is  that  he  who  is  like  the 
shepherd  of  the  flock,  watching  the  weakest  with  the 
tenderest  care,  shall  receive  the  crown  of  glory,  when 
the  chief  shepherd  appears 

5.  The  crov/n  of  righteousness.  (II,  Tim.  iv.  8). 
"  Henceforth  there  is  laid  up  for  me,"  just  as  if  it  were 
the  best  crown  of  all,  and  had  the  best  place  in  the 
mansions  above,  ' '  a  crown  of  righteousness  which  the 
Lord,  the  righteous  judge,  shall  give  me  at  that  day,  and 
not  to  me  only,  but  to  all  them  that  love  his  appearing." 
I  fear  some  of  us  may  not  receive  this,  but  it  is  a 
blessed  hope ;  it  will  keep  us  pure  and  make  us  faith- 
ful, keep  us  watchful  and  make  us  earnest,  so  that  all 
the  crowns  are  really  embraced  in  this  one. 

Arc  you  ready  ?  For  all  those  who  go  with  the  up- 
lifted face  crying,  "O  Lord  Jesus,  how  long?"  he  will 
come,  and  his  reward  will  be  with  him ;  it  will  be  the 
crown  of  righteousness. 

But  there  is  something  better  still  beside.  In  Rev- 
elation, fourth  chapter,  we  are  told  that  the  four  and 
twenty  elders  are  to  be  seen  with  crowns  upon  their 
heads,  but  in  the  tenth  verse  we  are  told  that  when 
the  Lamb,  slain  from  the  foundation  of  the  world, 
appears,    they    cast    all    their    crowns    at     His    feet. 


Memorial  Volume.  165 

' '  Thou  art  worthy,  O  Lord,  to  receive  glory  and  honor 
and  power.  "  So  that  the  best  reward  after  all  is  to  be 
with  Him. 

That  was  a  glad  day  in  1855  when  the  soldiers  came 
back  from  the  Crimean  war,  and  the  queen  gave  them 
medals,  called  the  Crimean  medals.  Galleries  were  con- 
structed for  the  two  houses  of  parliament  and  the  royal 
family,  to  witness  a  presentation.  Her  royal  majesty 
herself  came  in  to  watch  them  give  the  reward.  Here 
comes  a  colonel  who  lost  both  his  feet  at  Inkerman,  he 
wheeled  in  on  a  chair ;  here  is  a  man  whose  arms  are 
gone  ;  and  so  they  came,  maimed,  halt.  Then  the  queen, 
in  the  name  of  the  government,  gave  the  medals,  and 
the  bands  of  the  people,  with  streaming  eyes,  sang 
"God  Save  the  Queen." 

But  I  can  think  of  something  that  would  have  made 
the  same  more  wonderful — if  these  men  had  taken  off 
the  medals  which  the  queen  placed  upon  them,  and 
cast  them,  back  at  her  feet,  saying  :  "No,  your  majesty, 
we  can  not  keep  them.  We  give  back  the  medals.  To 
see  thee  is  the  greatest  reward."  That  shall  we  do  in 
heaven. 

The  time  will  come  when  we  shall  take  the  crowns 
that  we  have  received  from  him,  and  we  shall  cast  them 
at  his  feet.  Then  shall  our  eyes  behold  the  King  in  his 
beauty,  and  that  will  be  a  full  reward. 


COVINGTON    DISTRICT. 

In  the  Covington  District,  entered  at  the  same  time 
as  the  Mt.  Auburn  District,  the  following  churches 
and  ministers  cooperated  : 

Union  M.  E.,  Dr.  W.  A.  Robinson;  Main  street 
M.  E.,  Rev.  F.  D.  T.  Bickley  ;  Shinkle  Chapel,  C.  W. 
Sutton;  Scott  street  M.  E.,  South,  Rev.  W.  T.  Boiling; 
Eleventh  street  M.  E. ,  South,  Rev.  W.  A.  Cooper ; 
Fourth  street  Christian,  Rev.  Walter  S.  Priest ;  Fifth 
street  Christian,  Elder  W.  S.  Keene ;  First  Presby- 
terian, Dr.  J.  I.  Blackburn  ;  Madison  avenue  Presby- 
terian, Rev.  W.  H.  Neel. 

While  the  success  in  Walnut  Hills  had  in  a  measure 
prepared  those  in  the  work  for  any  degree  of  fervor, 
they  were  more  than  encouraged  by  the  gathering  of 
people,  far  exceeding  the  capacity  of  the  First  Presbyter- 
ian Church  on  Fourth  street.  At  7:30  P.  m.,  Monday. 
February  ist,  at  the  time  appointed  for  opening  the 
doors,  it  was  impossible  for  a  man  to  make  his  way  into 
the  church. 

A  thousand  people  were  turned  away  because  they 
could  not  even  get  standing  room.  It  was  remarked 
that  in  the  congregation  the  men  predominated,  and 
this  was  true  of  all  the  meetings  held  in  Covington. 
Not  only  did  this  meeting  exceed  in  size  any  of  those 
held  at  Walnut  Hills,  but  it  differed  in  quality.  It  was 
made  up  of  more  impressible  people.  Either  the  ac- 
counts of  Mr.  Mills,  which  preceded  him,  or  the  work 
done   by   the  pastors,    have   had  a  great  preparatory 

effect ;  or  else  the  conditions  over  in  Covington  were 

166 


Memorial  Volume.  167 

unusually  favorable  for  the  success  of  this  work  at  this 
time.  However  it  may  be  explained,  the  hearts  of 
hundreds  of  people  were  reached  with  very  little  appar- 
ent effort,  and  the  responses  to  the  invitations  to  remain 
to  the  after  meeting,  to  rise  for  prayer,  and  to  sign 
the  cards,  were  so  large  as  to  approach  unanimity. 

Seated  upon  the  platform  were  most  of  the  minis- 
ters of  the  Covington  churches  engaged  in  the  work. 
These  clergymen  are  Dr.  W.  A.  Robinson,  of  Union 
M.  E.  Church  ;  Rev.  F.  T.  D.  Bickley,  of  Main  street 
M.  E.  Church  ;  Rev.  C.  W.  Sutton,  of  Shinkle  Chapel  ; 
Rev.  W.  T.  Bowling,  of  the  Scott  street  Methodist  ; 
Rev.  W.  A.  Cooper,  of  the  Eleventh  street  M.  E.  S.  ; 
Rev.  Walter  S.  Priest,  of  the  Fourth  street  Christian  ; 
Elder  W.  S.  Keene,  of  the  Fifth  street  Christian ; 
Dr.  J.  I.  Blackburn,  of  the  First  Presbyterian  ;  Rev. 
W.  H.  Neel,  of  the  Madison  avenue  Presbyterian 
Church. 

Dr.  J.  I.  Blackburn  led  in  prayer.  Mr.  Greenwood 
sang  "  Throw  Out  the  Life  Line." 

Dr.  Robinson  then  introduced  Mr.  Mills.  He  de- 
scribed the  work  done  on  Walnut  Hills  as  the  captur- 
ing of  one  of  the  enemy's  outposts.  Covington  and 
Mt.  Auburn  were  two  other  outposts  that  must  be 
taken  during  the  next  ten  days.  Then  the  city  would 
be  attacked  in  detail,  and  finally,  in  the  work  at  Music, 
Hall,  the  attack  would  be  upon  the  very  citadel  itself 
The  success  of  these  operations  was  already  assured  if 
the  Christian  people  of  this  locality  would  properly 
cooperate  with  their  leader. 

Mr.  Mills,  upon  rising,  said  :  "I  am  glad  to  be  in 
this  grand  old  commonwealth  of  Kentucky,  which 
was  my  home   for  many   years,  and  I  am  especially 


1 68  Mills  Meetings 

glad  that  I  am  here  to  speak  about  my  God,  and  my 
father's  God.  One  of  the  most  delightful  trips  of  my 
life  was  the  one  which  I  took  last  Saturday  to  the 
old  home  of  my  father  in  Paris,  Ky.  Through  him  I 
may  claim  to  be  a  full-blooded  Kentuckian." 

Mr.  Mills  then  directed  the  attention  of  his  hearers 
to  the  text  found  in  Luke  xxii.  44 :  "And  being  in  an 
agony,  he  prayed  more  earnestly." 

At  the  close  of  the  regular  address  he  appealed  first 
to  the  church  members  who  were  concerned  for  the 
welfare  of  the  souls  of  any  friends  or  relatives.  He 
asked  them  to  signify  their  concern  by  just  rising  and 
naming  the  person  or  persons,  by  indicating  the  rela- 
tionship. Mothers  got  up  and  in  trembling  whispers 
pronounced  the  words,  "  My  son,"  or  "  My  daughter," 
wives  uttered  the  words,  "My  husband,"  and  hus- 
bands spoke  for  their  wives.  There  was  no  hesitation. 
People  rose  in  rapid  succession  for  about  ten  minutes, 
and  it  seemed  as  though  nearly  every  one  in  the  room 
had  some  one  whose  condition  was  a  matter  of  concern 
to  them.  One  old  woman,  bent  nearly  double  with 
age,  said:  "  My  four  children."  A  middle-aged  man, 
with  tears  in  his  eyes,  spoke  huskily :  "  My  sons,  my 
sisters,  and  their  families." 

From  time  to  time  Mr.  Mills  interjected  some  word 
of  comfort,  encouragement  or  incitement.  When  there 
was  no  more  response  from  this  class  of  his  listeners,  he 
turned  his  attention  to  those  who  had  been  Christians 
in  the  past,  but  who  felt  that  they  had  disturbed  the 
harmonious  relationship  with  God  by  some  sinful  deed 
or  thought.  They  were  asked  to  rise,  and  the  audience, 
which  a  moment  ago  seemed  to  be  made  up  of  Chris- 
tians who  were  concerned  for  others,  now  seemed  to  be 


Memorial  Volume.  169 

made  up  almost  entirely  of  Christians  concerned  for 
themselves. 

A  little  later  came  the  invitation  to  the  unconverted 
to  rise  during  prayers,  and  to  sign  the  cards ;  and  here, 
too,  the  response  was  so  general  as  to  be  very  gratifying 
to  those  conducting  the  work. 

The  reception  accorded  Rev.  B,  Fay  Mills  was  re- 
peated on  the  following  evening,  when  the  service  was 
conducted  by  Dr.  J.  Wilbur  Chapman,  and  throughout 
the  entire  series  the  meetings  were  marked  by  great 
enthusiasm  on  the  part  of  the  workers  and  great  interest 
by  those  who  were  out  of  the  kingdom.  Men  who  had 
never  attended  service  came  and  were  saved.  Heads 
of  families  came  to  the  men's  meetings,  and  at  the  next 
meeting  were  seen  with  their  families.  Those  who 
were  at  the  earlier  meetings  testified  at  the  later,  and 
God's  blessing  of  infinite  mercy  descended  upon  all. 
Fervent  prayer,  earnest  service,  were  the  watchwords 
of  the  faithful  servants  of  Christ  in  this  district,  and 
though  the  immediate  blessing  was  large,  all  joined  in 
the  expression,  often  repeated,    "The  end  is  not  yet." 

All  the  services  were  held  in  the  First  Presbyterian 
Church  on  Fourth  street.  Rev.  J.  I.  Blackburn,  D.  D. , 
pastor ;  with  the  exception  of  one  service  for  men  held 
at  the  Union  M.  E.  Church,  Rev.  W.  A.  Robinson, 
D.  D.,  pastor.  Dr.  J,  Wilbur  Chapman  preached  the 
sermon. 

A  day  of  prayer  and  special  consecration  was  ob- 
served Tuesday,  February  9,  1892.  From  one  hundred 
and  seventy-five  to  two  hundred  business  places  were 
closed  up  between  9:30  a.  m.  and  12  m.,  and  from  3  to 
5  p.  M. ,  and  again  at  6:30.  The  order  of  services  was 
as  follows:     At  8  a.  M. ,  neighborhood  prayer  meetings; 


I/O  Mills  Meetings 

at  9,  prayer  meetings  in  the  various  churches ;  at  lO, 
3:30  and  7:30,  services  in  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

A  cHpping"  from  the  Times  Star  gives  a  very  good 
idea  of  the  enthusiastic  response  of  the  Covington  peo- 
jdIc  to  this  work. 

Among  the  two  hundred  business  places  closed  were 
ten  saloons.  The  streets  were  very  quiet  during  the 
time  of  the  morning  service,  and  at  very  nearly  every 
other  window  the  pedestrian  might  see  one  of  the  cards 
announcing  that  the  place  was  closed.  There  were 
very  {q\x  grocery  wagons  sent  out,  and  the  general 
aspect  of  the  city  was  that  characteristic  of  a  Sabbath 
day. 

After  the  sermon  in  the  evening  Mr.  Mills  asked 
the  congregation  if  they  had  anything  to  be  thankful 
for  as  a  result  of  the  meetings.  He  requested  all  who 
had  received  some  blessing  to  stand  up.  Nearly  the 
whole  audience  rose  to  their  feet.  Mr.  Mills  was 
somewhat  surprised  at  the  unanimity  of  the  congrega 
tion  in  responding.  He  asked  the  people  to  be  seated, 
and  then  requested  them  to  rise  individually  and  give 
their  reasons  for  being  particularly  thankful. 

An  old  man  arose  and  said  that  he  was  thankful 
because  God  had  answered  his  prayers,  and  all  of 
his  children  had  become  Christians.  Another  was 
thankful  for  the  sweet,  heavenly  spirit  that  was 
manifesting  itself  in  all  of  the  Christian  people  of 
Covington.  They  seemed  to  be  bound  together  heart 
and  soul. 

Dr.  Bowling  said  :  "I  have  received  a  new  spirit  of 
consecration  to  God's  service." 

Dr.  Blackburn:  "I  am  thankful  that  our  church  is 
the  largest,  and  that  we  have  thus  had  you  with  us.      I 


Memorial  Volume.  171 

do  not  see  how  we  can  give  you  up  when  the  end 
comes." 

A  business  man  :  "I  am  thankful  that  people  have 
closed  their  houses  for  the  Lord  on  this  busy  working 
day." 

Many  others  arose  and  spoke  to  a  similar  effect. 

Regretting  that  we  can  not  incorporate  all  the  ser- 
mons preached,  and  the  rich  abundance  of  testimony 
as  to  the  beauty  and  power  of  the  gospel,  we  give  a 
stenographic  report  of  the  sermon  preached  in  the  First 
Presbyterian  Church,  Covington,  Ky.,  February  8th, 
1892,  by  the  Rev.  J.  Wilbur  Chapman,  D.  D. 


SERMON, 


BY    REV.    J.    W.    CHAPMAN,    D.    D. 

Text :  "  Behold,  we  have  forsaken  all,  and  followed  thee. 
What  shall  we  have  therefor  ?  "  (Matt.  xix.  2-]). 

The  nineteenth  chapter  of  Matthew  presents  some 
characteristics  for  which  the  Bible  stands  distinct  from 
every  other  book.  The  Word  of  God  contains  the 
greatest  thoughts,  and  the  simplest ;  the  darkest 
places,  and  the  brightest.  Thoughts  that  disturb  us 
because  incomprehensible,  and  thoughts  like  angels' 
songs  for  sweetness.  These  are  found  side  by  side, 
especially  in  the  chapter  from  which  the  text  is  chosen. 

The  first  verses  have  to  do  with  the  question  of 
divorce.  The  disciples  could  not  understand  it  at  all, 
but  it  is  immediately  followed  by  one  of  the  tenderest 
scenes  in  the  New  Testament.  The  mothers  brought 
young  children  unto  Him,  and  He  took  them  up  in  His 


1/2  Mills  Meetings 

arms,  and  He  blessed  them.  I  do  not  know  a  tenderer 
scene  in  all  the  Word  of  God. 

Let  us  never  forget,  when  we  come  to  the  place 
difficult  to  understand,  that  the  very  next  verse  may 
have  a  precious  truth  for  us.  Did  you  ever  notice  the 
disciples'  comments,  how  they  seemed  to  belittle  every 
action  of  Christ?  You  do  not  know  how  grand  Christ 
is  until  you  compare  Him  witli  others.  Take  the  say- 
ings of  the  wisest  men  that  have  ever  lived,  and  place 
them  side  by  side  with  the  words  of  Christ,  and  you 
will  have  before  you  one  of  the  proofs  of  His  divinity. 
Three  times  the  disciples  interrupted  Christ  in  this 
chapter.  The  text  is  the  third.  The  words  are  Peter's, 
for,  while  the  other  disciples  may  have  had  the  ques- 
tions in  their  minds,  he  was  the  only  one  that  would 
put  the  thought  in  words.  We  are  drawn  to  Peter  be- 
cause of  his  humanity,  his  promptitude,  and  his  cour- 
age.     We  know  ourselves  better  as  we  know  him. 

That  is  a  beautiful  picture  that  is  given  as  the  call- 
ing of  the  evangelist  by  Christ.  It  is  morning  on  Lake 
Gennesaret ;  to  the  right  is  the  city  of  Capernaum  ;  to  the 
left,  a  fleet  of  fishing  boats  returning  from  an  all-night's 
fishing  ;  upon  the  shore  the  multitudes  throng  around 
Christ.  He  enters  into  a  boat,  pushes  out  into  the 
lake,  enters  into  conversation  with  the  disciples,  and 
Peter,  overpowered  with  the  view  of  His  divinity,  ex- 
claims, "Depart  from  me,  for  I  am  a  sinful  man;"  but 
the  Master  said,  "  Follow  me,  and  I  will  make  you 
fishers  of  men." 

Peter  states  a  principle  of  religion  in  the  text,  and 
not  only  so,  but  a  principle  of  life  as  well.  It  is 
necessary  for  us  to  leave  all  if  we  are  to  be  much  used 
in  the  service  of  Christ.      It  may  seem  to  some  that  it 


Memorial  Volume.  173 

was  very  little  that  Peter  left — a  few  nets,  an  old  boat 
that  needed  mending,  and  his  old  father;  but  remem- 
ber it  was  all  that  he  had.  It  seems  to  us,  because 
seen  through  a  great  distance  of  time,  that  he  did  not 
leave  much.  When  we  reach  that  other  shore  and  look 
back  on  the  things  we  have  left  here  for  Christ,  hov.' 
insignificant  thay  will  seem !  A  few  sinful  pleasures,  a 
little  worldly  honor.     Why,  it  is  nothing  now! 

The  things  we  must  give  up  for  Christ  may  depend 
upon  our  calling.  Peter  gave  up  more  when  he  be- 
came an  apostle  than  when  he  was  simply  a  disciple. 
There  are  some  things  a  minister  must  give  up  if  he 
would  preach  Christ.  The  gains  of  the  merchant,  the 
fame  of  the  philosopher,  and  the  glory  of  the  discover- 
er are  not  for  him.  There  are  other  things  one  must 
give  up,  if  he  would  be  an  evangelist.  If  there  is  a 
principle  in  it  all,  it  is  this:  we  must  give  up  anything 
that  stands  in  the  way  of  our  successful  service — of  power 
from  on  high.  It  may  not  be  your  business,  your 
pleasure,  your  friends,  or  your  home,  and  yet  it  may 
be  all  of  them.  This  you  must  determine,  as  you  are 
taught  of  the  Spirit. 

Did  you  ever  realize  that  Peter  gained,  when  he  be- 
came willing  to  give  up  everything  for  Christ?  There' 
were  constantly  being  added  to  him  new  treasures  in 
the  line  of  his  experience,  and  all  because  of  his  con- 
fession of  Jesus  Christ.  First,  he  gained  a  house  ; 
for,  if  you  will  remember,  it  is  said  that  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ  entered  into  his  house,  and  abode  with  him  there. 
Second,  he  gained  culture.  He  was  a  fisherman; 
more  than  that,  he  had  been  a  profane  man,  a  rough, 
uncouth  character.  We  would  never  have  chosen  him 
as  a  disciple,  much  less  as  an   apostle,    still  less  as  a 


174  Mills  Meetings 

writer  of  letters.  Still,  this  man,  as  rough  as  any  on 
our  streets  to-day,  under  the  matchless  influence  of 
Christ,  was  so  transfigured  as  to  be  able  to  preach  with 
a  power  second  only  to  the  Master's  ;  and  his  letters, 
the  genuineness  of  which  has  never  been  doubted  by 
the  greatest  scholars,  are  said  to  be  written  in  the 
purest  Greek  of  the  New  Testament  This  is  always 
the  influence  of  the  service  of  the  Master. 

Third,  he  gained  the  closest  fellowship  with  Christ. 
When  there  was  sickness  in  his  home,  Christ  entered 
in  and  touched  the  fevered  brow,  so  that  the  sickness 
departed  and  the  afflicted  one  arose  with  new  strength. 
It  is  hard  enough  even  with  His  blessing  to  meet  and 
bear  the  burdens  of  life,  but  oh,  to  have  no  hope  in 
Jesus !  How  dark  this  world  would  be.  He  went  with 
Christ  on  the  mount  of  transfiguration.  He  beheld  his 
garments  grow  whiter  than  any  fuller  could  make  them, 
and  his  face  become  shining  as  a  sun  ;  and  the  fisher- 
man of  days  gone  by,  he  whose  business  kept  him 
night  and  day  upon  the  sea  until  his  face  was  weather- 
worn, beheld  the  transfigured  Christ  as  we  shall  see 
Him  in  the  skies.  We,  too,  may  become  thus  trans- 
figured if  we  are  but  living  near  to  Him,  for  the  word 
"transformed,"  in  Romans  xii.  2,  is  literally  "trans- 
figured." But  he  gained  more  than  this.  They  rose 
from  that  last  supper,  the  memory  of  which  is  with  us 
still,  walked  through  the  streets,  out ,  the  gates  of 
the  city,  over  the  stream,  and  up  the  hillside  into 
the  shadow  of  the  olive  trees,  which  they  say  arc  stand- 
ing to-day,  and  there,  beneath  the  locked  branches  of 
those  old  trees,  he,  the  fisherman  that  once  had  been, 
was  with  our  Lord,  when  through  the  pores  of  His 
skin  the  blood  drops  came,  when  His  heart  was  almost 


Memorial  Volume.  175 

breaking,    and    when    over    the    enemy    He    gained   a 
victory.      What  gain  !     What  infinite  gain  ! 

But  there  was  still  more.  He  was  with  Him  at 
Bethany,  also,  and  saw  Him  ascend  to  the  skies. 
Through  his  tears  he  watched  Him  until  He  was  lost 
in  the  clouds,  and  then,  with  the  angel's  promise  that 
in  like  manner  that  he  saw  Him  go  He  would  come 
again,  he  went  forth  to  preach  and  to  work. 

Thou  fisherman  of  Galilee !  who  would  not  give 
up  boats  and  nets,  and  all  things  else  beside,  for  such  a 
life  !  But  there  was  still  more  gain.  Turn  aside  with 
me  for  a  time,  and  enter  into  a  city  which  has  been 
famous  throughout  both  ancient  and  modern  time.  It 
is  the  city  of  Rome  in  which  we  stand.  We  have 
come  near  that  matchless  building  which  is  called  the 
central  shrine  of  all  Christendom.  We  are  standing  on 
the  very  place  where  Nero  set  lions  on  the  defenseless 
men  and  women  whose  only  crime  was  that  they  were 
Christians.  That  wonderful  building  was  three  hun- 
dred and  thirty-three  years  coming  into  completion, 
and  yet  it  is  not  finished.  It  was  the  work  of  fifteen 
architects,  among  them  Raphael  and  Angelo.  To  the 
summit  of  the  cross  in  the  great  dome  it  is  four  hun- 
dred and  seventy  feet.  Seven  hundred  and  fifty-six 
columns  adorn  and  uphold  the  wonderful  structure. 
One  hundred  and  twenty-one  lamps,  before  forty-six 
altars,  are  kept  burning  constantly.  Gibbon  called  it 
the  grandest  structure  used  for  religious  purposes  in 
the  history  of  the  world,  and  listen — it  is  said  that 
near  to  one  of  the  altars  is  the  shrine  containing  the 
ashes  of  St.  Peter  himself,  and  for  fourteen  centu 
ries  his  statue  has  been  there.  The  building  is  St. 
Peter's  at  Rome,    and,  standing  here,  we  behold  his 


1/6  Mills  Meetings 

monument.  This  fisherman,  this  man  of  nets  and 
boats,  this  man  of  low  company  and  profane  speech, 
who  said,  "  We  have  forsaken  all,  and  followed  thee. 
What  shall  we  have  therefor  ?"  this  is  what  he  gained. 
But  we  have  more  than  he  if  we  are  but  faithful  to 
Christ.  "For  all  things  are  yours,  whether  Paul,  or 
Apollos,  or  Cephas,  or  the  world,  or  life,  or  death,  or 
things  present,  or  things  to  come.  All  are  yours,  and 
yc  are  Christ's,  and  Christ  is  God's." 


SBB       i< 


THE    CENTRAL    DISTRICT. 

THE  EAST  AND   WEST   DISTRICTS  CONSOLI- 
DATED. 

On  February  ii,  1892,  the  work  was  commenced 
in  the  Central  District,  which,  as  has  been  stated  in  the 
introductory  sketch,  was  composed  of  the  consolidated 
East  and  West  Districts. 

Reference  to  the  Manual  will  show  the  cooperating 
churches  and  ministers. 

Preliminary  to  the  formal  opening  of  the  siege  in 
this  district  were  the  services  held  at  the  First  Presb}^- 
terian  Church  on  Fourth  street,  Rev.  Hugh  W.  Gil- 
christ, pastor,  an  account  of  which  will  be  found  under 
the  head  of  "  Noonday  Prayer  Meetings."  The  work 
in  this  district  assumed  even  larger  proportions  than 
that  of  the  other  districts,  as  the  territory  to  be  reached 
was  much  greater,  including  all  the  city  below  the 
hills. 

The  daily  services  comprehended  the  possibility  of 
attending  a  service  at  almost  any  hour  of  the  day.  A 
service  was  held  in  the  morning  at  the  Vine  street 
Congregational  Church,  Rev.  W.  H.  Warren,  pastor, 
at  10  A.  M.;  at  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  on  Fourth 
street.  Rev.  Hugh  Gilchrist,  pastor,  at  noon ;  at  Ninth 
street  Baptist,  Rev.  Johnston  Myers  and  Rev.  W.  D. 
Holt,  pastors,  at  2:45  P-  m.  and  at  3:30  p.  m.;  at  the 
Central  Christian  Church,  Dr.  J.  Z.  Tyler,  pastor,  and 
the  St.  Paul  M.  E.  Church,  Dr.  G.  K.  Morris,  pastor, 
at  7:45  p.  M. 


178  Mills  Meetings 

Every  facility  in  point  of  time  and  location  was 
amply  provided  for  those  who  wished  to  attend,  and 
the  method  of  special  services  for  different  classes,  to 
which  tickets  of  admittance  assured  comfortable  seats, 
made  it  possible  to  handle  the  great  number  of  people 
who  attended  these  meetings. 

While  yet  in  the  full  Ught  of  the  recent  occurrence, 
it  would  be  impossible  to  state  which  meeting  or  series 
of  meetings  were  attended  by  the  largest  numbers;  all 
the  meetings  had  some  who  were  their  especial  cham- 
pions. If  in  one  case  the  Noonday  Prayer  Meeting 
was  extolled,  there  would  be  elicited  strong  encomiums 
for  the  meetings  at  the  Ninth  street  Baptist  Church ;  and 
those  who  attended  the  Central  Congregational  were 
not  regretful  that  they  had  not  attended  service  at  some 
other  church.  Many  came.  All  were  filled  with  the 
spirit  of  the  Gospel. 

The  presence  of  Dr.  J.  Wilbur  Chapman  and  his 
able  associate,  Geo.  C.  Stebbins,  made  it  possible  to  re- 
peat the  evening  service,  and  this  plan  was  carried  out, 
giving  all  equal  share  in  the  richness  of  the  Gospel  as 
preached  by  these  servants  of  the  Master. 

Full  details  of  these  services  would  pile  line  upon 
line  and  page  upon  page,  and  far  outreach  the  limit  of 
a  record  the  size  of  this  volume.  But  while  much  that 
was  said  and  done  may  never  be  printed  from  type,  it 
has  been  graven  in  the  hearts  of  many  thousands  who 
heard  and  saw  it,  and  will  be  found  in  the  records  of 
holier  lives  and  broader  spiritual  conceptions.  Reports 
of  all  the  stations  of  service  follow. 


ST.   PAT'I<    M.  Iv  CIirKCH. 


Memorial  Volume.  179 

FIRST  SERVICE  IN  ST.  PAUL  M.  E.  CHURCH. 

Thursday  Evening.  February  ii,  1892. 

*  The  union  services  in  the  great  central  districts  of 
the  city,  conducted  by  Mr.  Mills  and  Dr.  Chapman 
simultaneously,  opened  with  much  enthusiasm  and 
large  attendance,  on  Thursday  evening,  February  nth, 
in  St.  Paul  M.  E.  Church,  corner  of  Seventh  and 
Smith  streets,  and  the  Central  Christian  Church,  on 
Ninth  street,  near  Plum.  Mr.  Mills  preached  at  St. 
Paul  Church  to  a  great  audience,  which  filled  every 
corner  of  the  house.  A  large  platform  occupied  the 
place  of  the  pulpit,  back  of  which  was  the  great  organ, 
and  over  which  was  a  spanning  arch  of  gas  jets  forming 
the  inscription  in  large  letters,  "  Glory  to  God  in  the 
Highest."  The  chorus  choir  of  one  hundred  voices 
occupied  the  back  part  of  the  platform.  In  front  was 
the  small  organ  used  by  Mr.  Greenwood,  behind  which 
and  on  either  side  sat  Mr.  Mills,  Mr.  Greenwood,  and 
a  number  of  city  ministers,  among  them  Dr.  Geo.  K. 
Morris,  Dr.  M.  C.  Lockwood,  Dr.  J.  J.  Francis,  Rev. 
W.  H.  Warren,  Rev.  Frank  Granstaff,  Rev.  A.  M. 
Dawson,  Rev.  G.  Fritz,  Rev.  J.  C.  Smith,  Rev.  D. 
McKinney,  and  others.  The  song  service  led  by  Mr. 
Greenwood  began  with  "There  shall  be  Showers  of 
Blessings,"  followed  by  "Revive  Thy  Work,"  "I 
Know  Whom  I  have  Believed,"  "  Seeking  for  Me," 
"  Near  the  Cross,"  and  "  Labor  On." 

Rev.  W.  H.  Warren  offered  the  opening  prayer, 
Mr.  Greenwood  sang  the  solo,  "Throw  Out  the  Life- 
line." Dr.  Geo.  K.  Morris,  pastor  of  St.  Paul  M.  E. 
Church,  and  chairman  of  the  West  District,  made  a 
brief  and  impressive  introductory  address. 


i8o  Mills  Meetings 

Mr,  Mills  then  read  the  1 26th  Psalm,  and  made  the 
announcements  for  the  meetings  of  the  United  Central 
District.  The  great  congregation,  led  by  Mr.  Green- 
wood and  the  choir,  sang  the  hymn,  "  Even  Me,"  after 
which  Mr.  Mills  announced  his  text  as  follows:  "Your 
very  prayerful  attention  is  invited  to  the  gospel  accord- 
ing to  Luke,  twenty-second  chapter  and  forty-fourth 
verse. " 

We  reproduce  this  sermon  in  full,  as  reported  sten- 
ographically  for  "The  Advance,"  of  Chicago. 

At  the  close  of  this  first  service  Mr.  Mills  held  a 
conference  with  the  ushers,  at  which  he  gave  them 
instructions  as  to  every  detail  of  their  work,  the  seat- 
ing of  people,  ventilation,  order,  distribution  of  tickets, 
and  of  inquirer's  cards,  etc.  Not  a  single  possible 
point  was  overlooked. 


AGONIZING  PRAYER. 

BY    REV.    B.    FAY  MILLS. 

Text:  And  being  in  an  agony,  he  prayed  more  earnestly. 
Luke  xxii.  44. 

He  had  been  praying.  He  never  prayed  when  he 
did  not  pray  earnestly,  and  yet  we  read  that,  "being 
in  agony,  he  prayed  more  earnestly,  and  the  sweat  was 
as  it  were  great  drops  of  blood  falling  down  to  the 
ground."  This  text  has  not  been  selected  this  evening 
with  the  design  of  giving  an  exposition  of  its  entire 
meaning.  It  has  been  chosen  for  two  reasons.  In  the 
first  place,  it  refers  to  the  Lord  Jesus,  who,  regarding 
the  manner  of  his  prayer,  might  well  say,  as  in  other 
things,  "I  have  given  you  an  example."     And,  in  the 


Memorial  Volume.  i8l 

second  place,  it  refers  to  a  certain  kind  of  prayer  that 
would  put  to  shame  a  great  deal  of  our  indifferent  and 
frivolous  approach  to  God.  This  was  the  critical  time 
in  the  history  of  Jesus  Christ.  It  was  the  time  when 
he  felt  more  than  at  any  other  the  world's  sin,  and 
when  he  felt  like  crying  out  to  God  with  all  the  power 
and  influence  that  was  in  him  for  the  sake  of  the  lost 
world.  And  yet  Jesus  Christ  is  not  the  only  one  of 
whom  we  read  in  the  Bible  who  seemed  to  have  prayed 
after  this  fashion.  There  was  a  man  years  ago  who 
was  called  the  "weeping  prophet."  That  title  was 
given  to  him  as  a  mark  of  very  high  regard.  I  am  not 
sure  that  we  would  be  complimented  to-day  to  be 
called  weeping  ministers.  We  are  getting  ashamed  to 
cry  in  these  days,  and  yet  I  do  not  know  of  anything 
that  might  be  indicative  of  a  nobler  man  than  to  be 
stirred  to  tears  when  the  heart  was  moved  by  righteous 
emotion.  This  man  Jeremiah  well  deserved  his  title. 
He  said:  "Oh,  that  my  head  were  waters,  and  mine 
eyes  a  fountain  of  tears,  that  I  might  weep  day  and 
night  for  the  slain  of  the  daughter  of  my  people."  And 
God  heard  that  prayer  of  Jeremiah.  He  received  such 
a  desire,  and  such  an  answer  to  his  prayer,  for  we  find 
written  in  the  third  chapter  of  his  Lamentation  :  "  Mine 
eye  runneth  down  with  rivers  of  water  for  the  destruc- 
tion of  the  daughter  of  my  people.  Mine  eye  trickleth 
down,  and  ceaseth  not,  without  any  intermission,  till 
the  Lord  look  down  and  behold  from  the  heaven.  Mine 
eye  affecteth  mine  heart,  because  of  the  daughters  of 
my  city." 

There  were  two  men  of  whom  we  read  in  the  Bible 
who  seem  to  have  prayed  in  an  exact  sympathy  with 
the  Lord  Jesus  in  the  Garden  of  Gethsemane.      One  of 


1 82  Mills  Meetings 

these  men  was  Moses.  He  had  been  on  the  mountain 
top  communing  with  God,  and  he  came  down  and  heard 
the  sound  of  revelry  in  the  camp  and  found  the  people 
worshiping  the  golden  idol.  His  first  thought  was  to 
destroy  the  idol.  Then  he  tested  the  people  by  virtue 
of  a  simple  test,  making  those  who  were  on  the  side  of 
the  Lord  stand  by  him.  His  next  thought  was  the 
punishment  of  those  who  had  led  the  people  into  sin; 
but  the  underlying  thought  was  the  great  question, 
Could  there  be  forgiveness  for  this  great  sin  ?  Was 
God's  mercy  sufficient  for  them?  Could  he  have  com- 
passion upon  them  for  whom  he  had  done  so  much,  and 
who  seemed  to  prove  so  faithless.  Was  his  mercy 
clean  gone  forever?  He  could  not  tell ;  he  said  to  the 
people:  "Ye  have  sinned  a  great  sin,  and  have  made 
you  gods  of  gold  ;  yet  now  I  will  go  up  unto  the  Lord 
for  you,  peradventure  I  shall  make  an  atonement  for 
your  sin."  So  Moses  returned  unto  the  Lord,  and  said 
(and  this  is  the  prayer  to  which  I  refer):  "Oh,  this 
people  have  sinned  a  great  sin,  and  have  made  them 
gods  of  gold,  yet  now  if  Thou  wilt  forgive  their  sins," 
— and  that  sentence  was  never  finished ;  he  could  not 
finish  it.  The  man  stood  there  utterly  speechless  while 
the  Spirit  of  God  made  intercession  through  him  with 
groanings  that  could  not  be  uttered ;  and  when  there 
came  back  to  him  the  power  of  utterance  he  cried  out, 
"If  not,  blot  me,  I  pray  Thee,  out  of  the  book  which 
Thou  hast  written."  I  do  not  know  just  exactly  what 
Moses  meant  by  that  ;  but  oh,  brethren,  did  you  ever 
climb  where  you  could  even  see  where  Moses  stood 
when  he  asked  that  he  might  be  blotted  out  of  God's 
book,  if  only  it  might  avail  something  for  the  forgive- 
ness of  the  people  that  he  loved  ? 


Memorial  Volume.  183 

The  other  man  to  whom  I  refer  was  the  apostle 
Paul.  He  tells  us  concerning  one  of  his  prayers  in  the 
ninth  chapter  of  Romans.  He  seemed  afraid  that  the 
people  would  not  believe  what  he  said,  and  so  he  af- 
firmed almost  with  an  oath  that  he  was  speaking  the 
exact  truth.  He  says:  "I  say  the  truth  is  Christ;  I 
lie  not.  My  conscience  also  bearing  me  vvitness  in  the 
Holy  Ghost,  that  I  have  great  heaviness  and  continual 
sorrow  in  my  heart."  What  a  testimony  for  a  man 
like  Paul.  "Great  heaviness  and  continual  sorrow  in 
my  heart."  "For,"  he  says,  "I  could  wish  that  my- 
self were  accursed  from  Christ  for  my  brethren,  my 
kinsmen  according  to  the  flesh.  "  I  do  not  know  just 
what  Paul  meant  by  that,  but  I  do  believe  he  meant 
something  that  in  the  depths  of  his  self  renunciation 
brought  him  into  sympathy  with  the  agonizing  Saviour 
in  the  garden,  and  I  believe  he  meant  something  that 
utterly  puts  to  shame  the  weak-hearted  indifference  and 
frivolity  that  characterizes  so  many  of  our  prayers  to 
God.  Paul  said,  "  We  know  not  what  we  should  pray 
for  as  we  ought."  The  emphasis  there  is  on  that  word 
"  as, "  The  revision  has  it,  ' '  We  know  not  how  to  pray 
as  we  ought. "  "  We  do  not  know  what  we  should  pray 
for  as  we  ought ;  but  the  Spirit  itself  maketh  interces- 
sion for  us  with  groanings  which  can  not  be  uttered." 

It  was  a  woman  who  was  kneelinof  before  the  altar 
and  her  whole  soul  within  her  cried  out,  but  not  a  word 
came  from  her  lips.  The  high  priest  looked  down  up- 
on her  and  said,  "  How  long  wilt  though  be  drunken? 
Put  away  thy  wine  from  thee.  "  And  the  woman  looked 
up  and  said  :  "  No,  my  lord,  T  am  a  woman  of  a  sorrow- 
ful spirit.  I  have  drunk  neither  wine  nor  strong  drink, 
but  have  poured  out  my  soul  before  the  Lord.    Count  not 


1 84  Mills  Meetings 

thine  handmaid  for  a  daughter  of  BeHal ;  for  out  of  the 
abundance  of  my  complaint  and  grief  have  I  spoken 
hitherto."  She  said,  "  I  was  praying  for  my  child." 
It  was  no  wonder,  when  the  mother  prayed  in  such 
fashion  for  her  unborn  child,  that  God  should  give  to 
Hannah  such  a  child  as  Samuel. 

James  may  have  differed  from  Paul  about  some 
things,  but  he  agreed  with  him  about  this,  for  he  said 
that  "the  effectual  fervent  prayer  of  a  righteous  man 
availeth  much."  What  did  he  mean  by  saying  an 
"effectual  prayer  would  be  effectual?"  The  word 
"  effectual  "  when  it  was  thus  rendered  had  a  stronger 
meaning  than  it  has  to-day.  It  is  the  fervent,  agon- 
izing prayer  o  f  a  righteous  man  that  avails  much, 
and  the  reason  why  some  of  our  prayers  have  not 
availed,  the  reason  why  to-night  there  are  here  some 
Christian  wives  with  Christless  husbands,  and  godly 
fathers  with  godless  children,  is  because  we  have  no 
sympathy  with  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  when  he 
prayed  in  his  agony  in  the  Garden  of  Gethsemane. 
I  do  not  believe  that  the  effect  on  the  body  is  of 
necessity  a  part  of  religion,  and  yet  I  can  not  see 
how  men  can  be  thrown  into  a  fever  of  excitement 
on  other  subjects  that  interest  their  minds,  and  not 
be  stirred  to  the  very  depths  of  their  being,  and  feel 
that  agony  throughout  their  entire  body,  and  bit- 
ter, burning  tears  fall  down  their  cheeks  as  they  think 
of  their  friends  away  from  God.  I  do  not  understand 
all  the  reasons  why  prayer  like  this  is  powerful,  but  I  do 
understand  some  of  them,  and  I  want  to  suggest 
to  you  five  reasons  why  that  sort  of  prayer  is  a 
prayer  that  is  powerful  with  God  in  the  salvation  of 
men. 


Memorial  Volume.  185 

In  the  first  place,  it  reveals  the  feeling  of  God,  and 
unites  Jesus  Christ  to  his  Church.  This  is  the  way- 
God  thinks  and  feels  about  lost  men.  And  if  we  are 
in  perfect  sympathy  with  him,  we  shall  have  a  similar 
experience.  Jesus  Christ  is  known  as  the  Saviour  of 
the  world.  But  Jesus  Christ  is  saving  the  world  to-day 
only  as  he  is  using  human  instrumentalities,  and  the 
world's  Saviour  is  utterly  helpless  and  powerless,  save 
as  he  can  use  his  body,  the  Church  of  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ.  In  the  conception  of  the  prophet.  He  stands 
as  "a  mighty  man  that  can  not  save."  Without 
God  the  Church  of  Jesus  Christ  is  utterly  helpless,  and 
the  Lord  might  well  say,  "Without  me  ye  can  do 
nothing."  Not  something,  not  little  things,  but  noth- 
ing, abolutely  nothing.  Let  these  two  come  together, 
and  let  them  be  united  in  the  closest  and  holiest  of  all 
mystical  bonds.  Let  Jesus  Christ  still  live  in  His  Church; 
let  them  be  united  as  husband  and  wife,  and  the  Church 
of  God  have  in  her  the  very  spirit  of  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  and  then  it  shall  be  that  children  shall  be  born 
unto  God's  Kingdom. 

And  this  suggests  a  second  reason,  which  is  this: 
that  it  is  only  thus  that  the  Church  can  be  prepared  to 
be  the  mother  of  her  children.  Yes,  of  /z^r  children. 
I  never  like  to  hear  a  man  speak  about  the  motherhood 
of  God.  The  Scripture  does  not  speak  of  the  mother- 
hood of  God.  God's  compassion  is  more  tender  than 
that  of  any  mother  ;  but  he  is  not  our  mother.  God  is 
our  Father,  with  all  the  father's  infinite  strength, 
tenderness  and  self-sacrifice ;  but  the  most  helpful,  the 
most  necessary,  the  most  intimate  relation  was  to  be 
sustained  to  the  children  of  God  by  the  Church  of  Jesus 
Christ.     The  Church  of  Jesus  Christ,  "the  Jerusalem 


1 86  Mills  Meetings 

which  is  above,  which  is  the  bride,  the  Lamb's  wife," 
is  the  mother  of  all,  and  the  reason  why  some  of  God's 
children  have  died  or  fallen  by  the  wayside,  has  been 
because  they  have  been  poor,  motherless  children. 

You  have  turned  away  from  the  house  where  the 
cold  form  of  the  mother  was  lying,  and  as  you  did  so  you 
heard  the  cry  of  the  little  one  from  the  upper  chamber, 
for  whom  that  mother  had  given  her  life,  and  you  have 
said,  "  Better  that  the  child  had  died  with  the  mother 
than  to  be  left  to  the  care  of  an  unfriendly  and  indiffer- 
ent world;"  but,  O  brother,  I  have  seen  babes  in 
Christ,  hungry  and  weak,  come  to  the  Church  of  God 
for  encouragement,  sustenance  and  help,  and  being  un- 
heeded, and  sometimes  even  repulsed,  I  have  seen  them 
sink  down  and  die  ;  reminding  me  of  nothing  so  much 
as  of  a  little  child  lying  on  the  ice-cold  form  of  a  dead 
mother,  and  tugging  vainly  at  her  unresponsive  breast. 
Brother,  in  God's  name  hear  me.  I  do  not  intend  to 
invite  the  unsaved  people  in  this  community  to  accept 
Jesus  Christ  as  their  Saviour,  I  do  not  intend  to  try  to 
get  one  sinful  man  to  forsake  his  sins,  unless  it  may 
be  that  the  members  of  the  Church  of  God  shall  be 
stirred  in  their  soul  to  deep  and  tearful  prayer. 

Unless  there  may  be  some  adequate  solicitude  on 
the  part  of  the  people  of  God,  I  would  not  want  to 
have  it  on  my  heart  or  conscience  that  I  had  aided  in 
bringing  children  into  God's  Kingdom,  only  to  be 
starved  or  frozen  to  death  by  the  side  of  a  frigid 
mother.  I  saw  a  man  one  night  moved  by  such  truth 
as  this  to  the  extent  that  he  rose  up  in  his  seat  and 
cried  out:  "Brethren,  can  this  be  true?  Can  it  be 
that  some  of  us  would  starve  or  freeze  to  death  one  of 
God's  children?"    "Oh, "he  said,  "  I  believe  it  is  true  ; 


Memorial  Volume.  187 

my  heart  has  grown  so  cold  ;  "  and  the  man  sat  down 
in  the  seat,  sobbing  in  deep  contrition,  and  the  sight  of 
his  concern  touched  others,  and  they  began  to  be 
awakened,  and  then  it  was  that,  when  Zion  was  in 
travail,  the  children  were  normally  born  into  God's 
world. 

The  third  reason  is  this  :  there  is  produced  by  this 
agency  a  very  deep  and  natural  effect  upon  those  that 
are  not  yet  Christians.  I  should  like  to  whisper  a  word 
to-night,  if  it  might  be  heard  only  by  those  who  are 
members  of  the  Church,  but  that  would  not  be  practic- 
able, and  I  will  say  it  right  out.  Berthren,  I  do  not 
wonder  as  some  people  do,  why  so  few  people  join  the 
Church.  I  wonder  sometimes  why  so  many  people 
come  into  the  Church  of  God.  As  a  certain  young 
man  told  his  pastor  who  spoke  to  him  about  being  a 
Christian  :  "Sir,  I  shall  never  join  the  Church.  I  do  n't 
believe  in  your  religion  at  all."  And  when  the  pastor 
said  he  had  supposed  the  young  man  was  almost  a 
Christian,  he  said :  "No,  you  may  call  me  an  atheist  if 
you  please;  I  don't  believe  in  the  Bible,  and  I  don't 
believe  any  of  you  do.  "  The  pastor  said  :  "You  would 
not  say  that  about  your  own  mother  and  sister,  who  are 
Christians."  The  young  man  answered:  "Are  my 
mother  and  sister  Christians?  "  "Yes,"  was  the  reply, 
"they  are  among  the  best  members  of  my  church.  I 
think  everything  of  them."  The  young  man  said: 
"  My  mother  would  die  on  the  cross  for  me  in  a  minute, 
and  my  sister  has  made  great  sacrifices  that  I  might  be 
given  an  education,  and  would  do  anything  that  I  might 
be  famous.  Do  you  think  they  believe  they  are  going 
to  be  separated  from  me  throughout  eternity  ?  Neither 
one  of  them  ever  spoke  a  word  to  me  about  my  soul ; 


1 88  Mills  Meetings 

I  do  n't  know  that  they  ever  had  any  concern  about 
it.  My  mother  loves  me,  and  my  sister  loves  me,  and 
I  know  they  do.  I  do  n't  believe  they  believe  the 
Bible.  I  don't  believe  you  believe  it,  and  I  do  n't  be- 
lieve anybody  believes  it.  I  don't  believe  in  God,  and 
I  never  will  be  a  Christian." 

I  could  not  find  it  in  my  soul  to  blame  him.  I 
should  think  other  people  would  feel  that  way.  Breth- 
ren, what  we  want  is  a  deep  concern  for  lost  friends 
which  takes  hold  on  the  unconverted  so  that  they  can 
not  resist  it.  I  knew  of  one  old  brother,  an  old  dea- 
con, Vv'ho  felt  much  concerned  for  a  neighbor  of  his 
who  was  a  scoffer  at  religion,  and  he  thought  if  he 
wanted  to  talk  to  him  about  his  soul  he  would  have  to 
be  posted  on  infidel  arguments.  So  he  got  some  trash 
and  read  it  through,  an  dread  some  answers  to  infidels  ; 
and  he  went  to  see  his  neighbor,  and  held  out  his  hand  ; 
but  he  forgot  everything  he  had  intended  to  say,  and 
could  not  remember  the  first  word  ;  could  not  even  think 
how  to  commence  the  conversation.  He  just  stood 
there  in  great  embarrassment,  wringing  the  man's  hand 
until  the  tears  began  to  come  into  his  eyes,  and  finally 
he  managed  to  gasp  out,  "I  am  greatly  concerned 
about  your  soul."  That  was  all  he  could  say.  He  went 
home,  and  thought  he  had  not  made  a  success  of  his 
trip  at  all. 

This  man  went  into  the  house,  but  he  could  not  at- 
tend to  his  business,  and  he  went  around  with  such  a  look 
on  his  face  that  his  wife  asked  him  what  the  matter  was, 
and  he  said,  "I  never  have  felt  like  this  before  in  my 
life;  what  shall  I  do?"  His  wife  said,  "I  should  ad- 
vise you  to  go  and  see  the  deacon,"  and  he  followed 
the  deacon  to  his  house,  and   found   the   old  man  just 


Memorial  Volume.  189 

rising  from  his  knees,  where  he  had  been  praying 
earnestly  for  his  neighbor.  He  said  :  "  Deacon,  do  you 
know  I  have  been  thinking  over  what  you  said  to  me. 
I  never  had  any  one  to  say  anything  Hke  that  to  me  be- 
fore. It  seems  strange  to  me.  I  have  been  thinking 
over  what  you  said,  and  I  made  up  mind  that  if  as  good 
a  man  as  you  is  concerned  about  my  soul  I  ought  to  be 
concerned  about  my  own  soul."  And  hegave  himself 
to  God  that  very  day. 

In  the  fourth  place,  a  soul  that  is  thus  burdened 
always  gains  its  desire.  You  could  not  come  to  have 
such  a  spirit  as  this,  friends,  by  any  human  anxiety. 
It  must  be  produced  by  the  Spirit  of  God.  There  is  a 
difference  between  anxiety  and  agony.  I  have  heard 
people  say  they  thought  they  might  die  if  friends  did 
not  come  to  Christ.  If  you  came  to  the  place  where 
the  Spirit  of  God  was  so  striving  in  you  that  you  would 
die  if  you  did  not  receive  the  desire  of  your  heart,  you 
would  get  the  desire  of  your  heart.  I  do  not  believe 
anybody  but  Jesus  Christ  will  die  of  a  broken  heart  to 
save  my  life  from  its  sins. 

You  may  remember  hearing  of  the  legend  of  Jerusa- 
lem that  tells  of  a  woman  whose  husband  was  sick  unto 
death,  and  she  went  to  St.  Peter  in  her  sorrow  and 
asked  him  to  prolong  her  husband's  life,  and  he  said, 
"I  will  do  it  on  condition  that  you  will  become  a 
beggar."  She  said,  "  I  do  not  need  to  ;  I  have  money 
enough  to  support  us."  Peter  said,  "You  must  not 
beg  for  money,  but  for  time.  You  go  out  and  beg  for 
time,  and  any  persons  you  will  find  that  will  give  you 
any  time,  you  can  add  that  to  your  husband, s  life." 
And  she  went  out  and  found  one  of  the  ten  lepers  that 
Christ  had  healed,  and  she  asked  him  for  a  day  of  his 


190  Mills  Meetings 

life,  and  he  said  no,  he  had  lost  so  much  of  it  that  he 
could  not  spare  any.  She  found  the  young  man  that 
had  been  raised  by  Christ,  and  she  asked  him  ;  but  he 
said  he  knew  what  it  was  to  be  dead  once,  and  he 
didn't  propose  to  die  again  until  he  was  obliged  to ; 
and  she  put  the  same  question  to  men  and  women, 
asking  for  a  day  or  an  hour  or  a  minute  of  their  time 
to  add  to  her  husband's  life,  and  she  was  coming  back 
disconsolate  to  Peter  when  the  thought  came  to  her 
mind,  "Why  not  give  your  own  life?  "  And  she  came 
and  asked  Peter  if  she  might  give  her  own  life  for  the 
life  of  her  husband,  and  he  said  she  might ;  and  he  took 
from  her  one-half  of  her  days  and  gave  them  to  her 
husband,  and  hand  in  hand  they  went  through  this 
world  until  they  came  to  the  river  of  death,  and  went 
across  it  in  the  same  minute. 

I  do  not  think  that  story  was  true ;  but  would  you 
give  your  life  for  your  husband ;  not  simply  to  die,  but 
just  to  give  up  your  ungodliness,  your  worldliness, 
your  fickleness,  your  frivolity ;  the  whole  soul  to  be  set 
on  God  for  the  sake  of  the  lost  soul,  and  be  a  godly 
woman  with  your  whole  life  given  up  to  God.  I  be- 
lieve God  would  save  your  husband  before  many  hours 
had  gone  by  if  you  had  a  spirit  like  thai,.  I  remember 
one  woman  who  was  married  to  a  man  not  a  Christian. 
He  was  a  prominent  banker  in  the  community  where 
he  lived  and  a  very  proud  man  indeed ;  a  man  of  fifty- 
five  or  sixty  years  of  age.  She  came  to  me  one  night 
and  she  said:  "I  can  not  tell  you  how  troubled  I  am 
about  my  husband.  We  have  been  married  twenty 
years,  and  I  never  felt  like  this.  We  have  had  a  new 
house  ready  for  occupancy  for  two  weeks,  but  we  have 
bought  no  furniture ;  I  will  not  let  my  husband  buy  it 


Memorial  Volume.  191 

lest  it  should  turn  his  mind  from  spiritual  things.  I  do 
not  do  anything  but  think  about  my  husband  and  pray 
for  him.  I  have  been  pleading  with  him,  and  I  can  do 
nothing."  She  said:  "Last  night  I  heard  him  groan, 
and  he  said,  'I  am  so  troubled.'  I  said  to  him,  'Are 
you  troubled  about  your  soul  ? '  And  he  said,  *  Yes, 
it  is  about  those  things.'  I  said,  'Will  you  not  kneel 
down  here  with  me  while  we  settle  the  question,  and 
give  yourself  to  God?'  He  said,  'No,  I  don't  want 
you  to  speak  to  me  upon  this  subject  again;  don't 
mention  the  matter  again  until  you  have  my  permis- 
sion to  do  so.'  "  She  said,  "  I  can  not  live  ;  I  can  not 
live,  unless  my  husband  is  saved  now."  I  said,  "Sister, 
if  that  is  true,  he  is  going  to  be  saved  now ;  you  can  be 
assured  of  that." 

She  said  to  him  when  the  time  came  for  evening 
service,  "Come,  dear,  and  go  to  meeting  with  me." 
He  said  "  I  am  not  going  to  meeting.  Go  if  you  want 
to,  but  I  am  not  going  to  church.  I  am  not  going  out 
of  the  house  unless  I  come  for  you  after  the  meet- 
ing." She  kept  on  pleading  with  him,  until  finally 
he  put  down  his  paper  and  said,  "I  will  go  just  this 
once." 

It  seemed  to  me,  as  I  saw  him  coming  in,  that  the 
critical  day  in  that  man's  history  had  come.  It  was  a 
stormy  night ;  the  audience  was  not  a  large  one  ;  but  we 
were  gathered  compactly  in  a  small  room,  audit  seemed 
to  me  that  there  were  people  there  that  wanted  to  pray 
for  their  friends,  and  I  said,  "  If  any  one  wants  to  pray 
for  friends  that  they  might  be  saved,  they  may  do  so, 
and  we  will  all  join  in  the  petition."  A  man  arose  and 
prayed  for  his  brother.  I  think  a  business  man  rose  up 
and  prayed  for  one  of  his  employes.     This  lady  was  a 


192  Mills  Meetings 

member  of  a  church  where  ladies  were  not  in  the  habit 
of  participating  in  the  public  meetings,  but  she  kneeled 
down  on  her  knees  by  the  side  of  her  proud  husband 
and  asked  God  to  save  him  that  night;  and  when  I 
asked  those  who  wanted  to  become  Christians  to  stand 
up,  his  stubborn  knees  unbent  and  he  rose  up  and  said, 
"I  want  to  be  a  Christian  now,"  and  he  went  home, 
and  his  wife  said  he  prayed  as  though  he  had  been  a 
Christian  for  sixty  years. 

In  this  same  town  one  of  the  pastors  had  a  son  that 
had  grown  np  to  be  twenty  years  of  age,  who  was  not 
a  Christian,  and  the  father's  heart  was  deeply  burdened 
about  this  son.  One  evening  as  he  stood  up  before  his 
people  he  said  something  about  his  son,  and  then  broke 
down.  He  stood  there  weeping,  and  as  he  wept  the 
power  of  motion  seemed  to  go  from  him ;  he  could  not 
speak.  He  tried  several  times,  but  utterance  was  taken 
away  from  him  ;  he  could  not  move.  The  people  be- 
gan to  weep  with  him,  and  then  when  there  came  to 
him  the  power  of  motion  he  moved  almost  like  a  walk- 
ing corpse  down  the  room  towards  the  door  where  his 
son  was  sitting,  three  or  four  seats  from  the  rear;  and 
as  the  father  came  near  to  him,  moved  by  the  Spirit  of 
God,  the  son,  moved  by  the  same  Spirit,  rose  up  and 
stepped  into  the  aisle,  and  the  father  lifted  up  his  arms, 
and  the  son  came  within  their  embrace  and  laid  his  head 
on  his  father's  shoulder,  and  his  hard  heart  melted 
within  him  and  there  he  consecrated  his  life  to  God, 
"I  believe,"  said  the  father,  as  he  told  me  about  that 
afterwards,  "I  believe  I  should  have  died  that  night  if 
my  son  had  not  become  a  Christian."  I  believe  he 
would.  He  was  pretty  nearly  dead  as  he  stood  there 
with  the  touch  of  paralysis  already  upon  him. 


Memorial  Volume.  193 

And  in  the  last  place  it  seems  to  me  that  this  is  no 
strange  sort  of  experience.  You  say  it  is  strange  that 
any  man  should  ever  feel  like  this  as  he  thinks  about 
people  that  are  without  God.  No,  friends,  that  is  not 
the  strange  thing;  the  strange  thing  is  this,  that  you 
and  I  can  believe  what  we  do  believe  and  kno\v  what 
we  know,  and  have  no  deep  concern  about  our  Christ- 
less  friends.      That  is  the  strange  thing. 

"And  the  last  suggestion  I  have  to  make  is  this: 
that  such  an  experience  as  this  is  only  the  natural  re- 
sult of  clear  views  of  the  condition  of  those  who  are 
without  Christ.  Michael  Angelo  used  to  shut  himself 
up  all  night  with  the  naked  form  of  a  corpse  in  order 
that  he  might  be  better  able  to  portray  in  the  marble 
how  the  dead  body  looked.  I  would  to  God  you  and 
I  might  get  some  conception  of  what  it  means  for  a 
soul  to  be  lost,  to  be  without  God  and  without  hope. 
Is  it  a  strange  thing  that  when  the  train  came  crashing 
through  the  bridge  and  some  of  the  passengers  were 
instantly  killed,  and  some  were  held  pinned  by  falling 
timbers,  and  some  lay  in  the  wreck  that  held  them  fast, 
and  others  were  set  free ;  was  it  strange  when  college 
friends  were  separated  for  the  last  time  one  stretched 
out  his  hand  to  the  other  and  said,  "Good-by;" 
strange  that  the  young  man  trembled  as  he  turned 
away;  strange  that  when  the  father  handed  out  his 
watch  and  his  pocket-book  to  his  little  son  who  was 
set  free,  and  gave  him  a  message  for  the  mother  and  the 
other  children  at  home,  and  said  good-bye  for  the  last 
time ;  strange  that  the  boy  wept  as  he  turned  away  ? 
And  when  there  came  a  great  fire  in  an  Illinois  town 
in  a  convent,  and  the  people  turned  out  by  thousands 
on  that  bitter  night  and  looked  up  at  the  flame-lighted 


194  Mills  Meetings 

windows,  and  saw  some  poor  girls,  shrinking  from  the 
fire  cast  themselves  out  and  be  dashed  to  death  on  the 
frozen  ground ;  and  others,  shrinking  back  from  that 
fearful  leap,  were  wrapped  round  and  round  by  fiery 
arms  that  drew  them  into  a  last  and  fatal  embrace  ;  as 
friend  looked  on  friend,  and  parents  upon  children,  and 
brothers  on  sisters ;  was  it  strange  that  there  was  in- 
tense and  sympathetic  pity  and  bitter  agony,  and  cries 
and  groans  ?  No.  That  was  not  strange.  But  it  is 
strange  that  you  and  I  can  know  that  our  friends  are 
without  God,  and  never  shed  one  tear  as  we  think  of 
their  lost  souls. 

The  brothers  of  Benjamin  said :  ' '  How  can  we  go 
up  to  our  father  ,and  thelad  be  not  with  us  ?  "  And  shall 
you  and  I  have  no  concern  how  we  shall  go  up  to  our 
Father,  and  our  loved  one  not  be  with  us  ?  Esther  cried 
out:  "  How  can  I  endure  to  see  the  destruction  of  my 
kindred!"  speaking  only  of  the  life  that  perishes  in 
a  few  years ;  and  shall  you  and  I  have  no  concern  as  we 
think  of  the  awful  present,  and  the  awful  future  of  our 
friends  without  God  and  without  hope  ?  May  God  for- 
bid, and  may  he  give  us  better  minds  that  we  may 
know  some  of  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  that 
there  may  come  upon  us  the  travail  of  the  Son  of  God, 
and  souls  may  be  born  unto  Him. 

I  must  add  another  word  to  those  that  are  not 
Christians.  You  may  have  been  saying  to  yourselves : 
"This  does  not  apply  to  me."  This  does  apply  to 
you.  What  the  man  said  to  the  deacon  was  the  pro- 
per thing  to  say:  "Deacon,  if  you  are  concerned 
about  my  soul,  I  think  I  ought  to  be  concerned  about 
myself"  Brother,  if  your  wife  ought  to  feel  this  way 
about  you,  if  your  brother  ought  to  feel  this  way  about 


■J  -" 

^    I 

^   ■ 


Memorial  Volume.  195 

you,  and  your  Christian  friend  ought  to  feel  this  way, 
how  ought  you  to  feel  about  yourself?  You  ought  to 
be  concerned  about  your  own  soul.  Oh,  brother,  you 
ought  to  be  concerned  about  your  own  soul.  Young 
man,  young  woman,  O,  Christless  mother,  you  ought 
to  be  concerned  about  your  soul ;  you  ought  to  be 
concerned  about  your  soul. 


The  same  evening,  February  nth,  services  were 
held  at  the  Central  Christian  Church  by  Rev.  J.  Wilbur 
Chapman,  D.  D.,  and  Mr.  Geo.  C.  Stebbins. 

Within  ten  minutes  from  the  time  of  opening  the 
doors  the  auditorium  was  filled,  leaving  but  a  few  seats 
in  the  balcony  unoccupied.  Noticeable  among  the  faces 
were  many  prominent  in  business  circles. 

A  platform  added  to  the  pulpit  gave  room  for  the 
large  choir,  who  were  promptly  in  their  places. 

A  preliminary  song  service  was  commenced  by 
singing  "  There  Shall  be  Showers  of  Blessing,"  led  by 
Mr.  Stebbins,  whose  rich  voice  has  contributed  so 
largely  to  the  power  of  the  words  of  hope  and  promise. 
The  audience  took  up  the  song  with  spirit,  "  Praise 
Him,  Praise  Him,"  "God  Calling  Yet,"  "  A  Shelter 
in  a  Time  of  Storm." 

It  would  be  difficult  to  imagine  a  fairer  sight  than 
the  choir  of  earnest,  loving  faces  singing  the  praises  of 
the  Master.  It  is  often  said  that  America  has  a  stand, 
ing  army  in  her  young  men.  To  this  might  be  added, 
that  Christ  has  a  choir  always  ready  in  the  host  of 
young  people  who  serve  him  gladly  with  much  song. 

Occupying  seats  upon  the  platform  were  Dr.  J. 
Z.  Tyler,  pastor  Central   Christian    Church ;  Rev.    H. 


196  Mills  Meetings 

W.  Gilchrist,  First  Presbyterian  Church ;  Dr.  J.  H. 
Walker,  College  Hill  Presbyterian  Church  ;  Dr.  E.  K. 
Bell,  First  English  Lutheran  Church ;  Dr.  E.  S.  Lewis, 
Trinity  M.  E.  Church ;  Rev.  C.  O.  Shirey,  Pilgrim 
Chapel  ;  and  Rev.  W.  D.  Holt,  Ninth  street  Baptist 
Church. 

Dr.  Chapman  opened  the  service  proper  by  an  invo- 
cation, which  was  followed  by  singing,  "  Jesus,  Saviour, 
Pilot  Me,"  by  choir  and  congregation.  Rev.  E.  S. 
Lewis,  D.  D.,  made  a  short  but  impressive  prayer.  He 
said:  "  We  thank  Thee,  Lord,  for  the  blessed  auspices 
under  which  we  have  come  together.  Come,  Holy 
Spirit,  like  a  dove ;  inspire  every  song,  bless  our  leader, 
and  add  power  to  his  words.  May  many  renounce  their 
life  of  sin.  May  this  be  a  time  when  our  hearts  are 
softened.  May  this  be  a  time  when  we  give  ourselves 
to  Jesus,  this  our  first  meeting." 

"Alas,  and  Did  my  Saviour  Bleed  ?"  was  im- 
pressively rendered  by  Mr.  Stebbins  and  choir. 

After  announcement  of  meetings  to  follow,  Mr. 
Stebbins  gave  a  beautiful  rendition  of  the  favorite 
hymn,  "Throw  Out  the  Life  Line." 

Dr.  Chapman,  after  a  few  words  of  earnest  prayer, 
announced  his  text : 

"Is  it  well  with  thee?  is  it  well  with  thy  husband? 
is  it  well  with  thy  child?"  (H.  King  iv.  26).  He  de- 
scribed the  happy  home  in  Shunem,  where  the  prophet 
loved  to  dwell ;  happy  because  God's  prophet  honored 
it  with  his  presence.  He  drew  an  impressive  word  pic- 
ture of  that  home,  and  the  sadness  that  entered  there 
when  the  little  one  was  overcome  by  the  sun  and  died 
in  his  mother's  arms.  He  pictured  her  faith  in  the 
prophet,  and  the  toilsome  journey  to  him,  and  her  ap- 


CKXTRAL    COX(;rE(;aTI().\AI,    CHrKCIl. 


Memorial  Volume.  197 

peal  for  his  help.  Her  importunity  conquered.  Elisha 
went,  and  joy  again  entered  that  household. 

Use  importunity  with  God  ;  keep  calling,  keep  plead- 
ing as  did  the  woman  in  the  New  Testament.  She  took 
no  denial.      Her  importunity  gave  her  the  blessing. 

Dr.  Chapman  has  a  rare  faculty  for  illustration,  and 
illuminates  his  sermons  with  stories  from  life,  that  can 
not  fail  to  reach  the  heart. 

"It  is  not  well  with  you  if  your  child  is  away  from 
Christ.  It  is  not  well  if  you  are  away  from  Christ.  It 
is  not  well  if  you  surrender  to  temptation." 

Rev.  Chapman  closed  his  sermon  with  a  touching 
and  eloquent  appeal  to  sinners  to  forsake  their  ways 
and  enter  the  kingdom.  He  plead  for  concern  for  the 
salvation  of  men.  "  Get  in  the  kingdom  yourself  first, 
and  then  save  the  boys  and  girls.  Father  leads  the 
boys,  mother  the  girls.  Lift  the  little  ones  to  Christ." 
With  a  short  but  very  impressive  prayer  he  pronounced 
the  benediction.  After  singing  "Even  Me,"  the  con- 
gregation was  dismissed.  All  felt  that  it  had  been  a 
season  of  great  refreshing. 


MORNING    MEETINGS,   CENTRAL    DISTRICT. 
Central  Congregational  Church. 

The  first  morning  meeting  in  the  Central  District 
was  held  Friday  morning,  February  12,  at  ten  o'clock, 
under  Rev.  B.  Fay  Mills.  Although  the  morning 
was  cold,  the  attendance  was  very  large.  Mr. 
Lawrence  B.  Greenwood  sang  selecticns  and.  led 
the  singing.  Mr.  Mills  preached  one  of  his  soul- 
searching  sermons  from  the    text:    "They  first  gave 


1 98  Mills  Meetings 

their  own  selves."  The  sermon  impressed  itself  upon 
the  hearts  of  all  who  heard  it,  and  was  frequently  re- 
ferred to  in  the  after  meetings. 

The  occasion  was  of  additional  interest  because  of 
the  fact  that  in  the  fall  of  1848  Mr.  Mills'  father  preach- 
ed the  dedicatory  sermon  of  the  church  building  in 
which  his  son  was  that  morning  preaching.  It  was 
feelingly  referred  to  by  the  speaker. 


No  service  was  held  in  the  Central  Congregational 
Church  on  Monday  morning,  Feb.  15,  on  account  of  the 
ministers'  conference  in  the  First  Presbyterian  Church. 

On  Tuesday  morning  Mr.  Mills  conducted  the  serv- 
ice with  an  increasing  attendance. 

Another  powerful  and  persuasive  sermon  on  the 
theme,  "Compel  them  to  come  in,"  was  preached  by 
the  evangelist,  an  idea  of  which  may  be  had  from  the 
following  headings  : 

By  a  "blameless  life,"  by  "Christian  joy,"  by 
"believing  prayer,"  by  "  great  self  sacrifice,"  at  the 
"righttime,"  by    "persistence,"   by    "promptness." 

Many  rose  for  prayer,  and  it  was  a  blessed  occasion, 
in  which  workers  felt  better  instructed  in  the  work  of 
rescuing  the  perishing  than  ever  before. 

Wednesday,  February  17th,  was  the  all-day  prayer 
meeting,  and  prayers  were  offered  from  9  to  lO  A.  m., 
in  the  lecture  room  of  the  church,  followed  by  the 
preaching  service  in  the  upper  room,  conducted  by  Dr. 
Chapman.  The  house  was  filled  to  overflowing;  chairs 
were  carried  in  to  accommodate  the  congregation. 

Dr.  Chapman  preached  an  eloquent  sermon  from 
the  theme,  "The  Five  Crowns."  (See  Mt.  Auburn 
District.) 


Memorial  Volume.  199 

On  Thursday,  February  i8th,  the  services  began 
by  singing,  led  by  Mr.  Greenwood,  after  which  Rev. 
B.  Fay  Mills  read  the  morning  lesson  from  the  last 
chapter  of  Hosea,  with  a  beautiful  and  instructive 
running  comment  on  the  prayer  contained  therein. 
After  the  notices,  Mr.  Lawrence  B.  Greenwood  sang 
the  solo   "  My  Saviour." 

Rev.  B.  Fay  Mills  then  preached  the  sermon, 
taking  for  his  theme,  "  Things  that  Accompany  Salva- 
tion." While  it  would  be  impossible  to  tell  all  the 
things  that  accompany  salvation  in  a  half  hour's  time, 
yet  the  following  were  dwelt  on  and  clearly  proven : 
First,  the  knowledge  of  it ;  second.  Christian  joy ; 
third,  growth ;  and  fourth,  right  influence  over  others. 

An  exhortation  followed  the  sermon,  a  large  number 
signifying  a  desire  to  possess  these  things  in  greater 
abundance. 

On  Friday,  February  19th,  the  closing  service  in 
the  Central  Congregational  Church  was  held  under  the 
direction  of  Dr.  Chapman,  assisted  in  the  singing  by 
Mr.  Geo.  C.  Stebbins.  The  ninety-first  Psalm  was 
read,  and  the  topic  of  the  discourse  was  "The  Secret 
Place  of  the  Most  High."  The  blessing  of  restfulness 
in  the  shadow  of  His  wing,  an  abiding  place  and  home 
for  the  trusting  one  where  he  could  confidentially 
explain  everything  to  the  Lord,  was  forcibly  and  ten- 
derly brought  forth,  and  the  hearers  were  called  on  to 
step  aside  often  into  this  secret  place,  for  it  was  the 
one  place  where  Satan  could  not  follow. 

The  meeting  closed  with  the  feeling  universally 
expressed  that  there  had  been  a  season  of  great  bless- 
ing at  the  Central  Congregational  Church. 


200  Mills  Meetings 

THE  WOMEN'S  PRAYER  MEETINGS. 

In    Connection  with  the    Mills    Meetings  —  Ninth 
Street  Baptist  Church. 

These  meetings,*  held  each  afternoon,  lasting  forty- 
minutes,  have  been  blessed  to  those  who  heard  and 
to  those  for  whom  these  earnest  pleadings  went  up 
to  God.  The  first  one  was  led  by  Mrs.  Mary  L.  Wells, 
"Prayer  for  the  Holy  Spirit"  (Luke  xi.  13)  to 
descend  upon  the  Christian.  What  fervent  peti- 
tions were  offered  for  the  outpouring  of  His  Spirit, 
that  believers  might  have  greater  powers  to  win  those 
who  do  not  believe  to  the  joy  of  service  and  the  peace 
of  knowing  Jesus  Christ. 

"Prayer  for  our  Young  People  "  (  Mark  ix.  14- 
27).  Mrs.  J.  J.  Justis  led  this  meeting.  Through  the 
channel  of  this  thought  ran  the  earnest  plea  for  the 
young  to  become  followers  of  Christ  before  sin  sets 
the  seal.  A  marked  feature  of  that  meeting  was  that 
parents  and  guardians  might  be  watchful  of  their 
words  and  influence,  and  by  daily  living  in  the  things 
of  the  Spirit  win  them  in  their  tender  years  to  the 
sheltering  fold.  Faith  in  God  to  hear  and  answer 
moved  the  hearts  of  the  women  to  believe  the  young 
people  will  become  the  children  of  God.  Mrs.  W.  H. 
Warren  took  for  her  theme,  "  Prayer  for  the  spirit  of 
willingness  to  work  for  Christ  "  as  found  in  Acts  ix.  6. 
Willing  for  any  service — to  go  anywhere — to  be  any- 
thing, that  the  Lord  Jesus  might  be  honored,  and  men 
learn  of  and  follow  Him.  Prayers  and  testimonies 
told  how  many  willing  hearts  were  ready  for  God's  serv- 
ice— willing  in  the  day  of    His  power.     This  meeting 

■■■■  Similar  meeting's  were  held  in  each  of  the  districts. 


Memorial  Volume.  201 

followed  that  great  sermon  of  Mr.  Mills,  on  "The  En- 
duementof  the  Holy  Ghost,"  which  aroused  in  so  many- 
lives  the  desire  for  purer  living,  holier  attainments,  and 
to  "receive  the  power  from  on  high." 

Prayer  for  the  "  almost  persuaded  "  (Acts  xxvi.28), 
by  Mrs.  H.  B.  Belmer. 

Prayers  were  asked  for  fathers,  mothers,  husbands, 
wives,  sisters,  brothers,  friends,  who  are  "  almost  per- 
suaded "  to  give  their  hearts  to  Christ,  and  yet  are 
waiting  for  a  "more  convenient  season." 

"  Almost  but  lost  "  has  been  ringing  in  ears  and 
resting  on  hearts  for  the  multitudes  who  are  "  almost 
persuaded"  to  "  step  over  the  line,"  for  the  heart  is 
not  satisfied  with  the  "  apples  of  Sodom." 

For  more  than  the  world  can  give,  it  pleads ; 

It  has  infinite  wants,  and  infinite  needs, 
And  its  every  beat  is  a  terrible  cry 
For  love,  which  never  can  change,  nor  die. 

Mrs.  G.  R.  Robbins  led  hearts  to  ' '  pray  that  the  indif- 
ferent might  be  awakened  "  as  recorded  in  Acts  xviii.  17. 

How  the  volume  of  prayer  arose  for  this  class  who 
say,  "  A  little  more  sleep,"  "  while  it  is  called  to-day," 
for  those  who  do  not  think  of  Christ  and  eternity. 

And  in  answer  to  these  prayers  for  all  classes  and 
conditions  named,  many  souls  have  come  to  know,  be- 
lieve, and  accept  the  Saviour  of  the  world.  The 
women's  prayer  meetings  have  been  one  of  the  factors 
in  the  success  of  the  Mills'  meetings  to  "turn  the  sin- 
ner from  his  way."  On  many  hearts  has  the  Holy 
Spirit  descended  to  give  power.  The  young  have 
crowded  into  the  kingdom,  and  scores  of  lives  spent 
in  shadows  have  found  the  light.  These  services  have 
induced  a  willingness  to  do  for  Him.    "He  went  about 


202  Mills  Meetings 

doing  good."  Very  many  from  the  ranks  of  the 
"alarmists  "  have  found  the  peace  that  human  lips  can 
never  tell,  and  many  hitherto  indifferent  are  saved.  To 
the  greater  work  these  holy  men  of  God  are  doing 
under  the  guidance  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  these  prayer 
meetings  have  been  helpful  adjuncts.  The  divine  help 
implored  has  been  given  to  those  Avho  asked  and  unto 
all  who  would  receive. 

' '  Be  not  weary  in  well  doing,  for  in  due  season  ye 
shall  reap,  if  ye  faint  not." 


THE  SUNDAY  SCHOOL  CONFERENCE. 

Saturday,  February  13TH,  8  p.  m. 

The  several  conferences  of  Sunday-school  workers 
held  during  the  Mills  Meetings  are  considered  as 
among  the  most  important  and  valuable  held  during  the 
revival.  Indeed,  Mr.  Mills  has  publicly  stated  in  the 
announcements  that  it  would  be  in  the  nature  of  a 
calamity  for  Sunday-school  teachers  to  be  absent  from 
these  meetings.  And  this  opinion  has  been  echoed  by 
all  who  have  had  the  pleasure  of  attending  them. 

Conferences  were  held  in  Walnut  Hills,  Mt.  Au- 
burn, Covington,  and  at  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  They  have 
all  been  similar,  and  a  full  report  of  the  meeting  at  the 
Y.  M.  C.  A.  will  be  typical  of  the  others. 

The  auditorium  of  the  new  building  was  filled  to  its 
utmost  capacity,  by  pastors,  superintendents  and 
teachers,  representing  all  the  churches  in  the  Central 
District.  It  would  be  difficult  to  bring  together  a 
brighter  and  more  intelligent  group  of  people  than 
those  who  were  there  as  workers  for  the  Master. 


V.   M.   C.   A.    Hril.DIXC, 


Memorial  Volume.  203 

Faces  were  beaming  with  the  light  of  consecration, 
eager  to  learn  the  best  methods  of  bringing  those  un- 
der their  charge  to  the  feet  of  Christ. 

The  platform  was  occupied  by  pastors,  among 
whom  were  noted  :  Rev.  W.  H.  Warren,  Rev.  G.  R. 
Robbins,  Rev.  M.  C.  Lockwood,  Rev.  J.  F.  Patton, 
Rev.  C.  O.  Shirley,  Rev.  Jos.  Emery,  Rev.  H.  W.  Gil- 
christ, Rev.  W.  T.  Bowling,  Rev.  W.  D.  Holt,  Rev.  J.  Z. 
Tyler,  D.  D.,  Rev.  J.  W.  Simpson,  D.  D.,  Rev.  E.  S. 
Lewis,  D.  D.,  Rev.  G.  K.  Morris,  Rev.  H.  J.  Stew- 
ard, D.  D.,  Rev.  F.  Granstaff,  and  many  others.  Super- 
intendents of  many  of  the  Sunday-schools  were  also 
upon  the  platform.  Mr.  Lawrence  B.  Greenwood  led 
in  the  singing  of  favorite  songs,  "Saviour,  Thy  Dying 
Love,"  "  In  the  Cross  of  Christ  I  Glory,"  "Rescue 
the  Perishing." 

The  teachers  joined  heartily  in  the  singing,  and  be- 
fore Mr.  Mills  had  offered  an  earnest  prayer  for  guid- 
ance, all  felt  that  the  hour  would  be  one  of  great  bene- 
fit to  those  who  were  present. 

Mr.  Mills  stepped  to  the  front  of  the  platform,  and 
spoke  to  the  teachers. 

B.  Fay  Mills  has  delivered  many  eloquent  sermons, 
and  several  practical  talks,  but  in  these  conferences 
there  has  been  a  peculiar  influence  that  is  difficult  to 
describe. 

His  manner  of  delivery  has  been  marked  for  its  sim- 
plicity; indeed,  the  absence  of  formality,  or  even  a 
definite  form  of  address,  has  been  noted  by  all  who 
heard  him  ;  but  no  meetings  have  left  such  a  deep  im- 
pression as  to  the  sincerity  of  the  man,  and  his  strong 
faith  in  the  power  of  the  Spirit  of  God  to  so  influence 
a  meeting  that  souls  will  be  won  for  Christ. 


264  Mills  Meetings 

He  spoke  as  follows : 

"  We  have  just  one  thing  to  consider  to-night,  and 
that  is  how  we  can  make  the  best  use  of  an  hour  in  the 
Sunday-schools  to-morrow.  Please  do  not  ask  any 
questions,  or  make  any  suggestions,  about  Sunday- 
school  work  in  general.  Let  us  have  in  mind  just  this 
one  thing  to-night. 

"I  merely  want  to  tell  you  of  some  of  the  things 
that  I  have  seen  done  by  the  Holy  Spirit  in  other 
places,  and  I  trust  that  the  Holy  Ghost  will  do  as  much 
here. 

"  If  you  had  planned  anything  especial  for  the  Sun- 
day-school, in  the  v/ay  of  any  regular  lesson,  or  any 
missionary  work,  or  appeal,  or  anything  of  that  sort, 
lay  it  aside.  I  should  not  have  a  collection,  nor  rattling 
of  books,  nor  Sunday-school  lesson.  Come  right  to 
the  one  point,  to  the  one  thing  of  seeing  if  you  can  not 
lead  the  Christians  to  consecration,  and  the  unsaved 
scholars  to  Christ. 

' '  I  remember  one  Sunday-school  where  every  scholar 
in  the  school  came  to  Christ.  It  was  a  church  of 
about  seven  hundred  members — a  large  church,  and  a 
large  Sunday-school.  The  superintendent  was  aware 
that  there  were  many  scholars  in  the  Sunday-school 
who  were  unsaved,  and  he  prayed  for  them  one  night — 
he  prayed  for  them  all  night,  until  three  o'clock  next 
morning.  And  when  he  came  to  church  he  did  not 
seem  like  the  same  man  as  usual ;  when  he  came  this 
morning  he  was  in  tears.  And  when  he  arose  and 
confessed  his  indifference  and  unbelief  in  the  past,  and 
asked  the  forgiveness  of  the  scholars,  one  of  the  teach- 
ers rose  up  and  said  she  did  not  think  it  was  the  fault 
of  the  superintendent  that  the  scholars  didn't  come  to 


Memorial  Volume.  205 

Christ ;  that  with  her  class  it  was  her  fault  that  she  had 
not  converted  and  led  them  to  Christ,  and  she  asked  them 
to  forgive  her  and  come  now ;  and  other  teachers  had 
confessions  to  make,  and  scholars  arose  and  said,  '  Pray 
for  me;'  and  when  the  school  was  closed  every  unsaved 
scholar  had  made  a  decision  for  Christ. 

"  In  another  school  they  laid  aside  all  their  exer- 
cises, and  had  a  sort  of  testimony  meeting,  or  rather 
entreaty  meeting.  The  pastor  told  what  a  desire  he 
had  had  for  them  to  come  to  Christ,  the  teachers  told 
them  of  their  desire  for  them  to  come  to  Christ,  and 
the  scholars  began  to  come.  Sixty-five  of  them  joined 
the  church  in  two  weeks,  I  speak  of  this  incident  be- 
cause I  saw  that  pastor  a  few  years  afterward,  and  Is 
said,  '  How  are  the  scholars  that  were  converted  at 
that  meeting?'  and  he  said  all  of  them  were  leading 
consistent  Christian  lives. 

"  In  another  school  each  teacher  was  requested  to 
ask  the  scholars  three  questions:  First, — Are  you  a 
Christian?  If  so,  will  you  try  to  lead  others  to  Christ? 
Second, — If  you  are  not  a  Christian,  will  you  decide  to 
be  one?  And  third, — If  you  are  not  prepared  to  make 
this  decision,  have  you  any  concern  for  your  soul,  and 
would  you  be  glad  to  have  prayer  offered  for  you? 
Even  in  this  formal  fashion  they  won  about  sixty  scholars 
that  day.  I  was  going  along  the  street  in  that  place  a 
day  or  two  afterward,  and  a  man  came  to  me,  and  I 
said,  '  Are  you  a  Christian  ?'  He  said,  '  I  have  not 
been,  but  I  am  going  to  be. '  He  went  on  and  stated 
that  he  went  to  Sunday-school  with  the  children  when 
it  stormed,  and  sat  in  a  class  of  men.  He  said  that  the 
teacher  was  always  earnest,  but  last  Sunday  he  did  n't 
know  what  had  gotten   into  him.      He  turned  around 


2o6  Mills  Meetings 

the  first  thing,  and  said,  'Mr.  S.,  are  you  a  Christian?' 
I  said,  'No.'  He  said,  '  Do  you  want  to  be  ?'  '  Mr.  Mills, 
I  have  lived  forty-two  years  in  a  Christian  land,  and 
that  is  the  first  time  a  person  ever  asked  me  if  I  wanted 
to  be  a  Christian,  and  it  impresses  me  tremendously, 
and  I  should  like  to  be  ;  if  I  can,  I  will  be. '  I  said,  '  You 
can  if  you  will.'  He  said,  'I  am  going  to  try,'  and  he 
is  now  one  of  the  leading  men  in  that  church.  When 
he  had  been  in  the  church  for  six  months — this  church 
is  one  of  the  wealthy  churches  of  the  United  States, 
but  not  for  that  reason  the  most  spiritual — they  said, 
'This  brother  is  the  most  earnest  man  in  the  church.' 

"He  and  some  others  organized  little  bands,  and 
went  out  into  the  little  hamlets,  cross-roads,  and  vil- 
lages, holding  special  meetings,  and  as  a  result  there 
were  several  hundred  joined  the  churches. 

"A  gentleman  came  to  me  and  said :  '  When  I  went 
into  the  Sunday-school  yesterday  I  was  a  little  late,  and 
the  superintendent  was  saying  that,  instead  of  teaching 
the  lesson,  the  teachers  would  try  to  bring  their  scholars 
to  Christ ;  and  I  looked  over  at  my  class,  and  I  thought 
they  were  all  better  Christians  than  I,  and  I  could  not 
speak  to  them.'  If  they  are  all  Christians  in  your  class, 
plan  to  reach  certain  individuals,  whom  they  will  agree 
to  speak  to  within  certain  hours  if  possible.  But  this 
man  thought  they  were  all  Christians,  and  he  would 
not  speak  to  them.  However,  there  was  one  young 
lady,  about  twenty-five  years  old,  that  he  was  not  sure 
about,  who  had  lately  joined  his  class,  and  he  asked  her 
if  she  did  n't  want  to  be  a  Christian,  and  in  five  minutes 
she  had  come  to  Christ.  Then  she  said,  *  Why  do  n't 
you  speak  to  Annie  ?'  He  said,  '  Annie  is  a  Christian. ' 
She  said,  'No,  she  is  not.'    So  he  went  and  spoke  to 


Memorial  Volume.  207 

Annie,  and  she  said,  '  I  have  been  praying  for  a  year 
that  you  might  speak  to  me  about  this  matter.'  Just 
think  of  it !  I  wonder  if  your  scholars  have  ever  said 
that  about  you. 

"This  is  not  the  culmination,  it  is  the  beginning  of 
the  Sunday-school  teacher's  work.  I  might  give  you 
many  other  examples  of  this  character,  but  in  the  time 
I  have  would  utterly  fail  to  tell  you  what  God  has 
done  in  this  way.  I  never  knew  of  teachers  going  right 
into  this  work  with  their  whole  heart,  and  trusting  in 
God,  but  that  they  conquered.     They  never  failed. 

"Sometimes  there  are  teachers  who  are  not  right 
themselves.  Well,  if  that  were  the  case,  you]^had  better 
get  right  now. 

"I  once  knew  a  prominent  banker  who  taught  a 
class  in  a  Sunday-school,  and  they  all  left  him.  One 
day  he  rose  and  said :  *  I  have  been  very  worldly,  and 
have  not  attended  to  my  work  for  Christ.  Pray  for  me. 
Well,  we  did  pray  for  him,  and  all  his  young  men  came 
back  and  were  converted  within  three  weeks — fourteen 
of  them,  I  think. 

"In  another  case,  a  superintendent  said  to  a  lady 
teacher,  whose  scholars  were  unconverted,  *  Why  are 
your  scholars  unsaved  ?  '  She  said,  '  I  do  n't  know.'  He 
said,  '  Do  you  ever  try  to  lead  them  to  Christ  ? '  She  re- 
plied, '  I  never  have  done  that.'  They  knelt  down  to- 
gether and  prayed.  She  prayed,  '  God  help  me,'  and  the 
tears  began  pouring  down  on  the  sofa  where  they 
were  kneeling.  They  arose,  and  she  went  to  the 
scholars,  and  one  by  one  they  came  running  into  the 
Kingdom  of  God. 

"  In  a  young  man's  class  there  were  four  members 
of  church,  and  one  back-slider,  and  four  unconverted 


2o8  Mills  Meetings 

young  men.  He  got  them  to  his  house  by  half  past 
eight,  Sunday  morning,  and  when  he  had  read  a  few- 
verses  in  the  Bible,  he  said  :  '  I  want  to  consecrate  my- 
self to  Christ.'  He  read  the  hymn,  '  Take  my  life, 
and  let  it  be  consecrated.  Lord,  to  Thee,'  and  said: 
'  If  you  mean  that,  offer  a  sentence  of  prayer ;'  and 
God  saved  them  there  on  their  knees. 

"Some  may  get  the  idea  that  we  are  going  to 
omit  Sunday-school  because  of  the  Young  People's 
Meeting.  Get  up  early,  and  go  and  tell  them  that  you 
are  going  to  have  an  especially  important  time  at  Sun- 
day-school, and  they  must  be  sure  to  come. 

• '  A  man  once  said  to  me,  '  You  will  have  to  teach 
my  class.'  I  said,  'I  won't  do  it.'  He  said,  'I  will 
have  the  pastor  teach  it  then.'  I  told  him,  'No,  sir, 
I  won't  let  him.'  He  said  he  couldn't  teach  it,  and  I 
asked  him  why.  He  replied,  '  It  is  a  class  of  business 
men,  and  they  know  that  I  am  not  right'  'Well,' 
I  said,  '  why  do  they  go  to  Sunday-school  ?  '  He  re- 
plied, '  I  don't  know.'  These  men  came  to  the  class — 
twenty-two  of  them  were  not  Christians — and  they 
would  discuss  whatever  they  liked  of  theological  con- 
troversy. They  had  some  very  warm  times,  but  they 
never  had  any  of  the  Spirit  of  God  about  the  whole 
matter.  I  said  to  him,  '  My  friend,' — he  was  a  druggist, 
by  the  way — '  I  can  give  you  a  prescription  that  will 
make  you  so  eager  to  teach  that  class  that  you  would 
not  let  any  one  else  do  it.'  He  said,  '  If  you  give  it  to 
me,  I  will  take  it. '  I  told  him,  '  Go  home  and  pray,  and 
ask  God  to  show  you,  help  you  and  uphold  you  in  the 
light  of  the  judgment.'  On  Sunday  he  told  those  men 
that  he  had  not  been  right,  and  he  asked  them  to  for- 
give him,  and  he  got  all  those  godless  men  down  on 


Memorial  Volume.  209 

their  knees,  every  one,  and  then  he  let  them  go.  That 
night  the  mayor  rose  up  and  said,  '  I  will  be  a  Chris- 
tian,' and  the  other  men  came,  and  out  of  those  that 
rose  up  to  confess  Christ,  twelve  of  the  principal  men 
of  that  city,  that  had  been  in  that  Sunday  school  class, 
were  brought  to  Christ. 

"Another  man  came  to  me  and  said,  'Do  you 
think  I  can  ask  those  men  to  come  to  Christ  ?'  I  said, 
'Well,  I  don't  see  how  you  can  help  doing  it.'  And 
he  went  to  his  class  and  got  three  of  those  men  to 
come  to  Christ. 

"You  may  hesitate  about  this,  but  if  you  are 
wrong,  get  right !  get  right !  Get  right  to-night.  A 
gentleman  who  was  not  a  member  of  the  church  came 
to  a  meeting  like  this,  and,  before  the  service  was 
done,  he  said,  'God  save  me,'  and  God  heard  him. 
The  next  day  he  said,  *  Boys,  I  have  come  to  Christ, 
and  I  want  you  to  come  too,'  and  they  came. 

"Your  scholars  know  if  you  have  been  worldly, 
and  have  been  doing  inconsistent  things.  And  if  your 
heart  is  right  with  God,  it  is  time  for  you  to  commence 
with  earnest  pleading  for  them  to  come  to  Christ. 

"  He  that  goeth  forth  and  weepeth,  bearing  pre- 
cious seed,  shall  doubtless  come  again  rejoicing,  bring- 
ing his  hearers  with  him.  But  some  may  say,  '  Yes, 
I  understand  this  ;  I  will  touch  these  keys,  and  work 
the  machinery,  and  that  will  save  them.'  Machinery 
never  saved  any  one !  It  is  the  one  that  comes  hesi- 
tatingly, and  yet  just  moved  on  by  the  mighty,  tender 
Spirit  of  God,  that  is  going  to  see  the  great  harvest. 
Bring  them  in  !    Bring  them  in ! 

"Will  you  ask  any  questions,  or  make  any  sugges- 
tions that  may  occur  to   you — any  pastors  or  teach- 


aio  Mills  Meetings 

ers  ?  It  may  be  that  I  can  say  something  that  may 
help  you.  Please  don't  ask  any  questions  after  the 
service;  ask  them  now, — speak  right  out  freely.  May 
be  some  of  you  would  like  to  ask  a  question  about 
the  little  children.  I  would  do  with  them  just  what 
Christ  commanded.  He  said,  'Suffer  little  children  to 
come  unto  me,  and  forbid  them  not.' 

"  He  said  a  man  would  have  to  come  like  a  little 
child  in  order  to  get  into  the  Kingdom,  but  not  that  a 
child  must  become  like  a  man.  I  should  never  tell 
them  any  pitiful  stories  about  Christ,  and  then  tell 
them  if  they  believed  that  to  stand  up,  and  say  now 
you  are  saved.  I  have  watched  little  children.  We  have 
five  little  children  in  our  home,  four  over  six  years  of 
age,  and  none  of  these  have  certainly  come  to  be,  I 
might  say,  two  or  three  years  of  age,  but  they  knew 
what  Christ  wanted  of  them.  I  would  say,  'Thornton, 
don't  do  that.'  He  would  say,  'I  want  to  do  it. '  I 
would  say,  '  Does  Jesus  want  you  to  do  it  ? '  and  he 
would  say,  '  No. ' 

"It  takes  years  of  living  in  a  deceitful  and  unclean 
world  to  come  to  think  black  is  white  and  white  is 
black.  It  is  easy  to  lead  children  to  do  what  Jesus 
wants  them  to  do." 

Dr.  Simpson:  "I  think  we  are  all  feeling  to-night 
that  there  ought  to  be  same  special  departure  to-mor- 
row. Just  how  would  you  conduct  a  school  to-morrow 
morning?"     (To  Mr.  Mills.) 

Mr.  Mills:  "Well,  I  have  given  three  or  four 
illustrations  of  what  superintendents  did,  and  teachers 
did.  I  should  give  opportunity  for  the  teachers  to  talk 
to  the  scholars,  with  a  definite  announcement  that  they 
were   going   to   talk    of   nothing  but   their   coming    to 


Memorial  Volume.  211 

Christ.  I  should  spend  a  great  deal  of  time  with  God, 
and  come  into  the  school  and  say,  '  O  God,  I  am  not 
going  to  speak  unless  you  speak  through  me,'  and 
then  I  would  not  say  much,  and  would  not  try  to  get 
some  one  to  do  it  for  me.  If  you  could  get  Mr. 
Moody  to  come  and  do  it  for  you,  it  would  not  be  best. 
There  are  things  that  a  parent  can  do  that  no  one  else 
can  do,  and  there  are  things  a  Sunday-school  teacher 
can  do  that  no  one  else  can  do. 

"I  would  lay  aside  all  ordinary  routine.  I  would 
have  some  short  prayers  for  just  one  thing — for  the  un- 
converted of  the  Sunday-school,  and  don't  let  any  one 
pray  more  than  thirty  seconds. 

"As  soon  as  the  first  individual  came  in  the  door, 
I  would  have  some  one  at  the  piano  or  organ  sing.  I 
would  sing  such  songs  as  'Just  as  I  am,  without  one 
plea;' — be  careful  about  your  hymns.  '  Almost  per- 
suaded ; '  'Pass  me  not,  O  gentle  Saviour,'  that  is  a 
great  song,  and  '  I  am  coming.  Lord,  coming  now  to 
Thee. '  These  three  hymns — '  Almost  persuaded, '  '  Pass 
me  not,  O  gentle  Saviour,'  and  '  Just  as  I  am,'  in  my 
opinion,  win  more  souls  to  Christ  than  all  the  rest  put 
together. 

"  In  one  Sunday-school  I  know,  they  sang  just  two 
verses  of  'Just  as  I  am,'  very  softly,  and  the  people 
joined  in  as  they  came  in,  and  the  Spirit  of  God  began 
to  work  in  their  hearts,  and  just  as  soon  as  it  was  fin- 
ished the  superintendent  said,  "  Let  us  pray,"  and  sev- 
eral men  prayed.  And  when  they  were  done,  they 
sang  another  verse — I  think  it  was  'Pass  me  not,'  or 
something  like  that — and  then  he  said.  Won't  you  come 
to  Christ?  won't  you  come?' — that  was  all,  just  a  few 
words.      And  after  the  teachers  had  plead   with  them 


212  Mills  Meetings 

fifteen  minutes,  he  said,  '  I  wish  those  of  you  who  are 
going  to  become  Christians  would  come  and  give  me 
your  hand,'  and  he  explained  to  them  just  what  it  was 
to  be  a  Christian  ;  and  I  believe  one  hundred  and  thirty- 
seven  came  to  Christ. 

"I  would  use  these  cards;  they  read,  'I  desire 
henceforth  to  lead  a  Christian  life.'  You  can  get  them 
here  ;  you  will  find  them  right  on  this  table  at  the  close 
of  the  service. 

"There  is  another  thing.  I  think  some  of  you, 
perhaps,  would  like  to  have  a  conference  with  your 
Sunday-school  teachers  and  officers,  or  to  arrange  for 
one  to-morrow,  or  it  may  be  some  of  you  would  like 
to  do  both, — arrange  to  see  how  many  of  them  there 
are  here,  and  arrange  to  have  a  conference  to-morrow 
night. 

"Well,  I  would  do  these  things  different  every 
time  if  I  were  to  do  them  ten  times.  It  would  depend 
upon  the  class,  and  upon  me  just  at  the  time.  If  I  had 
a  class,  and  none  of  them  were  converted,  I  should  talk 
to  the  one  nearest  converted  at  the  time,  and  talk 
to  them  all,  and  tell  them  we  had  been  looking  for 
this  time  for  them  to  come  to  Christ,  and  ask  them  to 
come.  What  you  want  is  not  to  make  explanations. 
Perhaps  you  might  break  down  and  cry,  and  then  get 
them. 

"A  baptism  of  tenderness  is  the  first  thing.  I 
remember  one  Sunday-school  where  they  tried  their 
best,  so  they  thought,  and  it  seemed  that  they  would 
fail,  and  their  hearts  were  breaking,  but  they  knew  that 
the  Holy  Ghost  was  striving  with  some.  A  gentleman 
was  there — he  was  a  stranger;  he  was  filled  with  the 
Holy  Ghost,  and  was  an  earnest  CbiistJan  worker,    and 


Memorial  Volume.  213 

they  asked  him  if  he  had  a  word  to  say.  If  he  had 
made  a  speech,  it  would  have  been  the  worst  thing  he 
could  have  done.  He  said  to  the  preacher,  '  Would 
you  like  to  see  these  souls  come  to  Christ  ?'  The  tears 
came  in  the  pastor's  eyes,  and  he  said,  '  Yes,  I  would.' 
He  said  to  the  superintendent,  '  Would  you  like  to  see 
these  souls  come  to  Christ?'  and  he  said,  '  If  any  of 
you  teachers  or  scholars  feel  this  way,  come  and  kneel 
down,'  and  they  came  and  knelt  down,  and  then  the 
unsaved  scholars  came  weeping  and  crying  for  God  to 
save  them,  and  I  think  there  were  some  of  the  finest 
young  men  of  that  town  came  to  Christ  that  hour. 

"A  matter  of  immediate  decision.  Will  you  do  it? 
Will  you  settle  it  now  ?  Come  now,  now,  now.  Now 
is  the  accepted  time.   Just  keep  right  on  that  one  point. 

"A  pastor  wrote  me:  '  I  talked  to  them,  and  they 
to  their  scholars,  and  then  I  said,  "This  is  the  time  (or 
gathering  in  the  sheaves  we  have  gone  forth  weeping. 
And  I  said:  "Miss  Lizzie,  how  many  are  you  bring- 
ing? "  and  she  said,  "  Six,  "  and  I  said,  "  Will  you  stand 
up?"  and  they  stood  up.  I  said,  "  Pray  for  them,"  and 
with  her  arms  around  two  of  them  she  prayed  for  them. 
Then  I  turned  to  another,  and  said,  ' '  Brother  So-and-so, 
how  many  are  you  bringing?  "  and  they  stood  up  and 
he  prayed  for  them.' 

"Now,  friends,  I  trust  that  this  will  be  a  night  of 
prayer.  Let  us  spend  a  few  moments  in  solemn  prayer, 
each  one  of  us  just  asking  the  Holy  Ghost  for  our- 
selves." 

Prayer  by  Mr.  Mills. 

The  teachers  of  the  separate  schools  then  gathered 
for  prayer  and  conference  in  various  portions  of  the  Y. 
M.  C.  A.  Building. 


214  Mills  Meetings 

This  Memorial  Volume  would  not  be'complete  with- 
out sketches  of  the  lives  of  the  noble  men  who  assisted 
Rev.  B.  Fay  Mills  and  Mr.  Greenwood  from  February 
1st  to  2ist,  and  made  it  possible  to  carry  on  the  great 
work  at  the  same  time  in  several  districts,  widely  sep- 
arated. Dr.  J.  Wilbur  Chapman  endeared  himself  to 
all  who  heard  him,  and  the  cordial  relations  with  Rev. 
B.JFay  Mills  demonstrated  the  fact  that  these  two  great 
men,  while  differing  in  their  manner  and  method, 
ministers  of  God  have  but  one  central  thought,  the 
salvation  of  men. 

Dr.  Chapman's  work  here  was  highly  appreciated. 
His  eloquence  touched  his  hearers,  his  love  of  men 
drew  men  to  him,  and  his  work  will  live  in  the  hearts 
of  all  who  listened  to  his  powerful  sermons. 

At  the  almost  universal  request  of  all  who  were 
interested,  we  include  in  this  volume  his  address  on 
Minister's  day. 

Mr.  Geo.  C.  Stebbins,  his  leader  of  the  song  service, 
is  almost  too  well  known  as  a  writer  and  singer  to  need 
further  introduction. 

Those  who  heard  him  will  always  cherish  the 
echoes  of  the  melody  of  the  songs  he  so  tenderly  ren- 
dered. His  voice  and  pen  have  been  for  many  years 
consecrated  to  the  service  of  our  Kingly  Master,  Jesus 
Christ. 


J.   WILBUR    CHAPMAN. 


Memorial  Volume.  215 

REV.  J.   WILBUR  CHAPMAN,   D.   D. 

PASTOR    OF    BETHANY    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH,      PHILADEL- 
PHIA,    PA. 

Who  Assisted  Mr.  Mills  in  Cincinnati, 
February  i  to  21. 

Rev.  J.  Wilbur  Chapman,  D.  D.,  was  born  in 
Richmond,  Indiana,  in  1859,  and  is  therefore  some- 
thing past  thirty-two  years  of  age.  He  pursued  his 
collegiate  studies  at  Oberlin  College,  and  at  Lake 
Forest  University.  At  the  latter  place  he  first  met 
Mr.  Mills  in  1878,  and  since  that  time  these  two  men 
have  been  united  in  the  closest  ties  of  brotherly  inti- 
macy. In  1879  Mr.  Chapman  entered  Lane  Theologi- 
cal Seminary,  in  Cincinnati,  from  which  he  was  gradu- 
ated in  1882,  less  than  ten  years  ago.  The  professors 
in  this  institution  still  take  a  very  deep  interest  in  their 
pupil,  and  view  with  the  heartiest  gratitude  his  effec- 
tive service  for  Christ. 

While  in  the  Seminary  he  supplied  the  churches  of 
Liberty,  Indiana,  and  College  Corner,  Ohio,  with  a 
success  that  gave  some  token  of  the  power  that  was  to 
accompany  his  future  ministry  for  Christ. 

In  1882,  Mr.  Mills,  who  was  located  in  the  East, 
induced  him  to  accept  a  call  from  the  Reformed  Dutch 
Church  of  Schuylerville,  New  York.  He  remained  in 
this  parish  for  two  years,  where  he  had  the  great  delight 
of  seeing  many  scores  of  people  brought  to  Christ,  in- 
cluding some  of  the  most  influential  men  of  the  com- 
munity. 

While  at  Schuylerville  he  received  a  hearty  call  to 
become  the  successor  of  Dr.  Rufus  Clarke,  as  pastor  of 
the  First  Reformed   (Dutch)    Church    of  Albany,    the 


2i6  Mills  Meetings 

first  church  in  that  city,  and  the  second  church  in  age 
in  the  entire  state.  In  this  historic  and  conservative 
church  he  labored  for  five  years  with  the  greatest 
measure  of  success,  preaching  to  audiences  which 
crowded  the  largest  church  building  in  Albany,  and 
welcoming  hundreds  into  the  fellowship  of  the  church. 

While  at  Albany  he  was  forced  to  turn  a  deaf  ear 
to  many  pressing  invitations  from  some  of  the  largest 
and  most  inviting  fields  in  the  United  States.  But 
finally,  in  1890,  he  was  induced  to  accept  a  call  to  be 
come  the  pastor  of  the  great  Bethany  Presbyterian 
Church,  in  Philadelphia. 

This  church  has  a  membership  of  about  three  thou- 
sand, of  which  nearly  one  thousand  have  been  wel- 
comed into  fellowship  by  Dr.  Chapman  during  his  brief 
pastorate  there.  The  Sunday-school  is  one  of  the 
largest  and  best  arranged  in  the  United  States,  there 
being  an  attendance  of  more  than  three  thousand 
scholars,  having  for  its  superintendent  the  Hon,  John 
Wanamaker,  at  present  postmaster -general  of  the 
United  States,  whose  Bible  class  of  men  numbers  eight 
hundred.  The  church  is  equipped  with  entertainment 
rooms  for  men  and  young  men  and  boys,  with  a  free 
dispensary,  at  which  six  hundred  cases  a  month  are 
treated  by  the  best  physicians  in  the  city;  with  a 
savings  bank  which  is  self-supporting  and  remunerative, 
and  with  many  other  appliances  for  the  forwarding  of 
its  great  work. 

The  pressure  upon  Dr.  Chapman  to  engage  in  evan- 
gelistic work  is  very  great,  and  there  are  those  who 
prophesy  that  before  many  years  he  will  be  forced  to 
join  his  friend,  Mr.  Mills,  in  a  wider  field  of  activity 
than  can  be  offered  by  any  local  church. 


Memorial  Volume,  217 

In  1890  Dr.  Chapman  received  the  degree  of  Doc- 
tor of  Divinity,  from  Washington  College,  Tennessee, 
when  only  thirty  years  of  age.  Dr.  Chapman  was 
married  in  1883  to  Miss  Irene  Steddom,  of  Cincinnati, 
who  died  during  the  early  months  of  his  pastorate  in 
Albany,  leaving  him  one  child — a  beautiful  little  girl. 
Another  child  died  in  its  early  infancy.  In  1889  he 
was  married  to  Miss  Agnes  Pruyn  Strain,  daughter  of 
Robert  Strain,  Esq.,  of  Albany,  by  whom  he  has  one 
child,  a  little  boy  a  few  months  old,  who  is  named  J. 
Wilbur,  Jr. 

Dr.  Chapman  has  assisted  Mr.  Mills  in  his  work  at 
Providence,  R.  I.,  and  Philadelphia,  and  in  Newark 
and  Jersey  City,  N.  J.,  with  the  greatest  measure  of 
success  and  acceptance  with  the  people. 

When  it  became  apparent  last  Fall  that  the  work 
planned  in  Cincinnati  was  to  be  on  such  an  extensive 
scale,  Mr.  Mills  suggested  to  the  Executive  Committee 
that  he  should  secure,  if  possible,  the  assistance  of  Dr. 
Chapman  for  part  of  the  time.  To  this  the  committee 
cordially  assented,  and  the  Christian  people  of  this 
city  are  grateful  to  Bethany  Church,  Philadelphia,  for 
sending  their  beloved  pastor  to  aid  in  the  work  here 
during  the  first  three  weeks  of  February.  (See  pages 
17  and  21).  From  the  first  day  of  his  appearance 
in  Cincinnati,  Dr.  Chapman  won  the  hearts  of  the 
ministers  and  people,  by  his  lovable  spirit,  his  un- 
affected simplicity  and  earnestness  of  manner,  and  by 
the  manifest  power  of  the  Holy  Spirit  accompanying 
his  preaching ;  and  during  the  three  weeks,  in  which  he 
preached  two  and  three  times  each  day,  thousands  of 
eager  listeners  thronged  the  largest  churches  in  Mt. 
Auburn,  Covington,  and  the  great  central  districts  of 


2i8  Mills  Meetings 

the  city,  drinking  in  the  glorious  messages  of  a  pure 
gospel,  as  they  fell  from  his  lips.  He  will  always  be 
held  in  loving  remembrance  here,  by  the  multitudes 
whom  he  helped  to  a  higher  plane  of  Christian  living, 
and  especially  by  the  hundreds  who  were  led  by  him  to 
give  their  hearts  to  Christ. 

Dr.  Chapman's  work  throughout  his  ministry  has 
been  chiefly  among  men,  with  whom  he  has  been  most 
successful.  His  congregations  are  made  up  of  more 
men  than  women.  And  of  the  hundreds  whom  he  has 
received  into  the  church,  there  have  been  more  men 
than  women. 

Dr.  Chapman  was  assisted  in  the  great  meetings 
conducted  by  him  by  the  widely  known  and  effective 
Gospel  singer,  Mr.  George  C.  Stebbins,  j.  j.  f. 


GEORGE  C.  STEBBINS, 

EVANGELISTIC    SINGER   AND    MUSICAL    AUTHOR. 

Who  Assisted  Dr.  J   Wilbur  Chapman  in  Conducting 
THE  Song  Service 

George  C.  Stebbins,  who  accompanies  Dr.  Chapman 
as  conductor  of  song  service,  is  well  known  in  the 
evangelistic  work.  He  was  born  in  Western  New 
York,  near  Rochester,  in  1846.  In  1869  he  went  to 
Chicago,  where  he  had  charge  of  the  choir  of  the  First 
Baptist  Church.  Here  he  became  acquainted  with 
Messrs.  Moody  and  Sankey  Bliss  and  Whittle,  the 
noted  evangelists.  In  1874  he  went  to  Boston  to  take 
care  of  the  singing  in  the  Baptist  Church  under  the 
pastorate  of  Rev.  A.  J  Gordon.  While  in  Boston  he 
also  conducted  the  singing  at  the  Tremont  Temple. 


GEO.   C.   STEBBINS. 


Memorial  Volume.  219 

In  the  Summer  of  1876,  while  visiting  Mr.  Moody 
at  his  home  in  Northfield,  Mass.,  he  was  induced  by- 
Mr.  Moody  to  enter  the  evangelistic  work.  His  first 
work  in  this  field  was  the  organization  of  a  choir  of 
eight  hundred  voices  for  the  great  meetings  of  Moody 
and  Sankey. 

In  the  spring  of  1877  he  joined  Dr.  Pentacost.  who 
gave  up  his  church  in  Boston  to  take  up  evangelistic 
work.  From  that  time  until  one  year  ago  he  has  been 
almost  continually  associated  wjth  Dr.  Pentacost,  going 
twice  to  Scotland  and  England  to  assist  Moody  and 
Sankey.  For  three  years  of  this  time  he  assisted 
Mr.  Moody  directly,  making  two  trips  to  the  Pacific 
coast. 

A  year  ago  last  October,  Mr.  Stebbins,  accompa- 
nied by  his  family,  joined  Dr.  Pentacost  to  assist  him 
in  a  mission  to  India.  Mr.  Stebbins  has  been  greatly 
assisted  in  his  work  by  his  wife,  who  possesses  a  rich 
contralto  voice,  and  is  thoroughly  in  sympathy  with 
him.  His  son,  G.  Waring  Stebbins,  now  twenty- two 
years  of  age,  also  possesses  musical  talent  of  a  high 
order,  which  is  being  cultivated  under  the  care  of  his 
father.  In  this  trip  through  India  the  family  sang  to- 
gether. With  Dr.  Pentacost  they  visited  North, 
Central  and  South  India,  and  came  in  contact  with  a 
large  number  of  missionaries,  assisting  them  and  giving 
song  services  in  the  principal  cities  to  large  European 
and  native  congregations. 

He  came  away  impressed  with  the  fact  that  although 
a  great  work  is  being  done,  it  is  limited  by  the  absence 
of  men  and  means 

On  their  return  from  India  they  visited  the  princi- 
pal cities  of  Egypt  and  Palestine,  and  sang  the  Gospel 


220  Mills  Meetings 

of  Jesus  Christ  in  cities  sacred  to  the  Christian  for  the 
merrfories  of  the  presence  of  the  Master. 

On  their  way  across  the  continent  they  gave  services 
of  song  in  Naples,  Rome,  Paris,  London,  and  other 
cities. 

Mr.  Stebbins  is  one  of  the  joint  authors  witli 
Messrs.  Sankey  and  McGranahan  of  Gospel  Hymns 
Nos.  3,  4,  5,  and  6,  and  is  the  author  of  some  of  the 
most  popular  hymns  in  these  collections. 

His  hymns  are  of  a  high  order.  Among  the  ear- 
lier songs  written  by  Mr.  Stebbins  that  have  become 
popular  are  "There  is  a  Green  Hill  Far  Away,"  "  Must 
I  go  Empty  Handed, "  "  I've  Found  a  Friend, "  "Even- 
ing Prayer,"  "Gather  Them  In,  for  there  Yet  is 
Room."  Of  those  of  later  date:  "Jesus  is  Tenderly 
Calling,"  the  words  of  which  were  written  by  Fanny 
Crosby,  the  blind  poetess,  whose  tender  verses  have 
touched  to  spiritual  light  many  who  were  blind  in  sin. 
The  words  of  "In  the  Secret  of  His  Presence,'  which 
Mr.  Stebbins  sings  as  a  solo,  were  written  by  a  con- 
verted Brahmin  lady  of  high  caste. 

With  the  permission  of  Mr.  Stebbins,  we  publish 
the  words  and  music  of  one  of  his  favorite  songs,  "  I 
Shall  Be  Satisfied."  c.  b.  m. 


MINISTERS'  DAY. 

Hkld  at  the;  First  Pre;sbyterian  Church  on  Fourth 
Street,  February  15,  1892,  at  10  a.  m. 

No  service  in  this  great  revival  was  more  highly 
appreciated  than  that  held  at  the  First  Presbyterian 
Church,  Rev.  Hugh  W.  Gilchrist,  pastor,  Monday,  lO 
a.  m.,  February  15,  1892. 


Memorial  Volume.  221 

It  was  the  day  set  apart  as  Ministers'  Day,  and  invi- 
tations had  been  sent  to  pastors  for  miles  around  the 
center  of  the  work,  to  which  many  responded.  There 
were  present  pastors  representing  nearly  every  church 
cooperating  in  this  movement,  and  many  visitors  from 
churches  at  a  distance.  The  object  of  the  meeting,  as 
stated  by  Rev.  B.  Fay  Mills,  was  to  discuss  the  question 
of  a  "Soul-Winning  Church." 

The  services  were  opened  by  singing  "Showers  of 
Blessings"  and  several  other  songs.  Mr.  Mills  re- 
quested a  few  minutes  of  silent  prayer,  which  was 
followed  by  brief  prayers  by  the  pastors  present. 

After  a  song  by  Mr.  Greenwood,  Dr.  J.  Wilbur 
Chapman  then  addressed  the  congregation,  as  follows : 

He  said :  My  first  experience  as  a  pastor  was  in  a 
church  at  Schuylersville,  ten  years  ago.  Here  the 
church  was  blessed  by  large  additions.  From  there  I 
went  to  Albany,  where  I  assumed  the  pastorate  of  the 
oldest  church  in  the  city,  the  First  Reformed  Dutch 
Church.  This  church  became  a  soul-winning  church, 
after  considerable  effort.  He  then  spoke  of  the  church 
in  Philadelphia,  which  has  often  been  called  Wana- 
maker's  Church. 

Thirty-four  years  ago  to-day,  John  Wanamaker, 
then  but  a  boy,  conceived  the  idea  that  the  street  in 
front  and  at  the  side  of  the  church  presided  over  by 
Dr.  Chambers  needed  a  new  pavement.  He  solicited 
the  brick  and  assisted  in  laying  the  pavement.  Dr. 
Chambers  was  absent  at  the  time,  but  on  his  return  he 
was  much  pleased  by  the  kindness. 

Seeing  young  Wanamaker  on  the  other  side  of  the 
street,  where  he  had  been  waiting  to  see  what  Dr. 
Chambers  would  do,  he  asked  him  who  had  done   it, 


222  Mills  Meetings 

John  Wanamaker  told  him.  Dr.  Chambers  thanked 
him  so  kindly  that  he  felt,  if  a  little  act  of  this  kind 
brought  so  much  good  will,  that  to  do  good  to  others 
should  be  the  rule  of  his  life,  and  he  has  surely  lived  up 
to  it. 

The  first  Sunday-school  was  started  in  a  shoe-mak- 
er's shop,  and  was  presided  over  by  Mr.  Wanamaker, 
and  had  twenty-seven  scholars  and  nine  teachers.  They 
soon  removed  to  larger  quarters,  which  were  soon  out- 
grown. The  present  Sunday-school  building  was  then 
built,  which  has  now  a  membership  of  over  three  thou- 
sand, and  an  attendance  averaging  two  thousand  nine 
hundred.  The  Sunday-school  had  an  attendance  of 
two  thousand  nine  hundred  and  four  the  Sunday  before 
he  left  Philadelphia  to  assist  in  this  movement.  He 
spoke  glowingly  of  the  character  of  John  Wanamaker 
and  his  devotion  to  the  work  in  the  church,  and  then 
spoke  of  the  wonderful  system  that  has  rendered  it  pos- 
sible to  know  every  member  absent  or  present  at  every 
service  of  his  Sunday-school  class  of  over  eight  hun- 
dred. 

The  rapid  growth  of  the  Sunday-school  made  it 
necessary  to  establish  a  church.  The  membership  at 
first  was  small,  but  to-day  is  the  second  largest  in 
the  United  States,  having  twenty-five  hundred  commu- 
nicants. The  church  building  stands  next  to  the  Sun- 
day-school, the  value  of  property  being  more  than  two 
hundred  and  fifty  thousand  dollars. 

In  order  to  keep  the  church  list  revised  to  date  they 
use  tokens,  consisting  of  a  card  with  the  name,  address 
and  any  changes  that  may  have  occurred  since  the  last 
communion.  They  have  six  communion  services  each 
year,  and    revise  the    church    list    after   each    service. 


Memorial  Volume.  223 

These  tokens  are  taken  up  at  the  service,  and  upon 
them  they  depend  for  their  record. 

Sometimes  Wanamaker  requests  the  pastor  to  di- 
vide the  Sunday-school  into  different  groups,  Dr.  Chap- 
man preaching  to  the  men,  while  Mr.  Wanamaker 
preaches  to  the  women. 

This  church  is  a  seven-day  church.  There  is  some 
service  every  day  in  the  week,  and  some  one  there  to 
look  after  those  who  are  inquiring. 

If  you  should  come  there  at  twelve  o'clock  at  night 
you  would  find  some  one  there  to  see  you,  and  ready 
to  talk  about  your  soul's  salvation.  All  sides  of  human 
nature  are  taken  into  consideration,  and  every  effort 
made  to  provide  for  all  needs. 

A  dispensary,  which  sometimes  treats  six  hundred 
sick  a  month  ;  a  day  nursery,  where  mothers  can  leave 
their  children  under  the  care  of  loving  Christian  women  ; 
a  diet  kitchen,  from  which  one  hundred  kettles  of  soup 
are  sent  daily;  a  women's  bureau,  which  provides 
clothes  and  shoes  for  the  destitute  ;  an  industrial  school, 
which  fits  the  children  for  any  work  in  life — anything 
and  everything  to  touch,  win  and  hold  the  people  who 
come. 

When  this  church  was  started,  the  neighborhood 
was  one  of  the  most  wicked  in  the  city.  Now  homes 
have  grown  up  around  it,  and  it  has  become  a  pleasant 
place  to  dwell. 

It  is  a  church  of  workers — evangelistic  workers, 
workers  interested  in  the  souls  of  men,  and  its  influence 
js  felt  in  all  parts  of  the  city.  There  are  only  a  few 
wealthy  people  in  the  church,  yet  it  gives,  and  gives 
liberally.  Only  a  few  weeks  ago  five  thousand  dollars 
was  raised  in  a  few  hours  for  a  specific  purpose.     They 


224  Mills  Meetings 

give  as  a  means  of  grace,  and  grow  in  grace  by  giving. 
There  is  a  society  called  the  Brotherhood  of  Andrew 
and  Philip,  consisting  of  two  hundred  and  fifty  men 
selected  for  their  high  standard  of  Christian  living. 
These  are  divided  into  bands  often,  under  a  leader  who 
has  care  over  them,  and  reports  from  time  to  time  to 
the  pastor. 

These  men  pray,  first  for  themselves  fifteen  minutes 
at  each  service,  then  for  the  pastor.  This  is  the  secret 
of  power — prayer.  Great  praying  will  make  great 
preaching.  My  elders  pray  for  me,  before  the  sermon 
jn  the  study,  and  then,  during  the  services,  they  sit 
behind  me  on  the  platform.  Sometimes  I  turn  to  them 
and  see  their  lips  moving  in  prayer  for  me,  and  I  gain 
power.  The  stcret  is  out — pxaycr,  earnest,  heartfelt 
prayer,  is  the  basis  of  a  soul- winning  church. 

In  the  Brotherhood  of  Andrew  and  Philip  they  have 
but  two  rules — the  rule  of  prayer  and  the  rule  of  serv- 
ice. They  pray  for  themselves,  for  each  other,  for 
me.  They  search  their  hearts  and  search  for  souls. 
They  pray  for  the  spread  of  the  gospel,  and  search  for 
some  one  to  whom  they  can  tell  the  gospel  story. 

That  is  one  way ;  go  after  them.  Make  it  a  special 
obligation  to  seek  for  souls.  Get  the  men,  the  women 
will  follow.  Make  it  a  special  object  to  get  men  to 
come  to  Christ,  to  work  for  Christ.  There  are  more 
men  than  women  in  our  services. 

There  is  also  a  society  of  women  called  the  Society 
of  Seventy,  who  are  sent  out,  two  by  two,  to  work 
for  Christ.  We  divide  the  church  into  thirty  parts, 
and  appoint  a  group  over  each  part.  We  keep  our 
hands  on  all  we  get.  We  divide  the  Sunday-school 
work  in  the  same  way,  and  know  just  where  to  look  for 


Memorial  Volume.  225 

each  scholar,  and  keep  them  all  under  our  eye  and 
hand.  We  try  to  maintain  a  high  standard  of  spirit- 
uality.    A  spiritual  church  will  have  a  spiritual  people. 

We  divide  the  new  comers  among  those  who  are 
spiritually  minded,  and  they  receive  instruction  and  are 
brought  up  to  a  high  standard.  No  pastor  can  work 
ak)ne  ;  all  must  join  him.  We  have  always  had  a 
people's  church.  We  use  the  evangeHstic  methods 
with  success.  We  make  the  church  a  place  to  win 
souls  ;  we  preach  to  them  with  that  object.  It  is  the 
preaching  of  the  gospel  that  wins  men's  souls.  We  go 
after  them,  we  find  them,  we  bring  thern  in.  There  is 
no  power  in  an  empty  pew,  but  there  is  power  when 
the  pew  has  some  one  in  it.  We  use  a  great  deal  of 
printed  matter ;  God  believes  in  printer's  ink  as  well  as 
the  devil.  We  compel  the  unsaved  to  come  by  keep- 
ing the  matter  before  them.  We  see  that  every 
one  gets  a  card  of  invitation.  We  sing  gospel  songs  in 
our  church.  An  elder  in  the  church  at  Albany  opposed 
this  by  every  method,  but  when  I  had  succeeded  in 
having  the  song,  "  Ring  the  Bells  of  Heaven,"  sung 
on  one  occasion,  he  said,  "What  was  that  song?"  I 
told  him  it  was  a  gospel  song.  "Just  the  thing," 
said  he,  and  we  rang  the  bells  of  heaven  until  we  sang 
the  doors  open  tor  the  unsaved. 

Prepare  your  church  for  this  kind  of  work.  Never 
have  services  of  an  evangelistic  nature  without  prepara- 
tion. See  that  the  congregation  is  right  with  God  be 
fore  you  commence.  Then  preach  the  gospel  of  Jesus 
Christ.  There  may  be  competition  in  preaching  as  m 
other  fields,  but  there  is  no  competition  m  preaching 
the  gospel.  It  is  the  same  always  and  everywhere. 
Men  are  hungry  for  the  gospel.     I   do  not  believe  in 


226  Mills  Meetings 

sensationalism,  but  I  had  rather  be  a  sensationaHst 
than  have  empty  seats.  I  believe  that  if  I  should  an- 
nounce that  I  would  preach  standing  on  one  foot  the 
church  would  be  crowded  ;  but  would  it  last  ?  The 
gospel  of  Jesus  Christ  lasts.  It  is  always  new,  and  al- 
ways draws,  and  always  holds.  Sensational  preaching 
is  like  froth. 

Expect  the  people  to  come  to  Christ,  There  was 
a  time  in  my  work  when  I  was  afraid  to  ask  them,  and 
did  so  in  fear  and  trembling.  Not  a  man  got  up. 
Preach  as  though  you  expected  every  man,  woman 
and  child  in  the  house  to  get  up  and  confess  Christ. 
Ask  them  to  give  their  hearts  to  Christ,  I  would  stop 
in  the  midst  of  a  sermon  toask  this  question  if  I  thought 
it  was  the  right  time.  We  have  one  worker  in  every 
six  seats,  and  when  a  man  or  woman  shows  signs  of 
desire  these  workers  get  them  by  the  hand  and  talk  to 
them  and  try  to  turn  them.  It  is  a  difficult  thing  for  a 
man  to  get  out  of  the  church  without  being  asked  to 
come  to  Christ, 

This  plan  will  do  as  well  for  the  small  churches. 
Make  the  church  and  the  men  responsible  for  the  work 
done.  Catch  the  enthusiasm  of  the  gospel  if  you  want 
a  soul-winning  church. 


After  the  close  of  the  sermon,  Dr.  Chapman  invited 
ministers  present  to  ask  questions.  The  following  were 
asked : 

Question. — Do  you  believe  in  cottage  prayer-meet- 
ings? 

Answer  i^Y^'^v.  J.  Wilbur  Chapman), — Yes,  sir; 
conducted  by  the  proper  persons,  they  are  very  good 
adjuncts  to  the  other  work. 


Memorial  Volume.  227 

Q.  — How  much  do  you  usually  spend  on  your  work 
in  advertising  ? 

A. — (J.  W.  C.)^ — From  fifty  to  sixty  dollars  a 
month,  but  we  get  it  all  back  in  the  collection.  Ad- 
vertising pays. 

Q. — What  is  the  best  method  of  conducting  after- 
meetings  ? 

A.  (J.  W.  C). — You  must  consider  the  material 
that  you  have  to  work  with.  You  can  not  set  an 
arbitrary  rule.  Begin  with  those  who  have  risen  for 
prayers.  Sometimes  people  will  take  a  short  step  when 
they  will  not  take  a  long  one.  Ascertain,  if  possible, 
the  difficulties  in  coming  to  Christ.  I  remember  one 
man  who  testified  that  he  was  waiting  to  get  the  feel- 
ing, and  this  testimony  developed  twenty-five  others. 
It  is  sometimes  necessary  to  get  the  Christians  started  ; 
others  will  then  follow. 

Q. — In  the  divisions  of  which  you  speak,  do  you 
consider  the  geogr^iphical  locations,  or  do  you  divide 
them  according  to  age? 

A. — We  first  tried  dividing  them  by  location,  but 
we  found  that  this  did  not  work  satisfactorily.  We 
found  that  if  they  were  too  near  they  would  neglect  to 
work  simply  because  they  were  not  required  to  make 
an  effort,  but  that  when  we  gave  them  work  at  some 
distance  they  did  better  work. 

Q. — Will  you  please  explain  a  little  more  explicitly 
what  you  meant  by  tokens? 

A. — Our  token  card  reads :  **  Bethany  Communion 
Token. — Name  ....  Address  ....  Remarks  ,  ,  .  ." 
We  have  these  prepared  in  books  with  stubs.  We  have 
six  communions  per  year.  At  each  communion  service 
these  are  gathered.  We  depend  upon  them  for  our  record. 


228  Mills  Meetings 

Q. — What  is  the  character  of  the  music  ? 

A. — We  use  the  same  music  as  we  use  in  this  serv- 
ice, Gospel  Songs.  We  have  an  orchestra  that  we 
have  used  two  or  three  times  during  the  year. 

Q. — Are  all  your  services  of  an  evangelistic  charac- 
ter? 

A. — No,  sir;  they  would  lose  their  fascination.  We 
have  intervals  of  five  or  six  weeks.  Sometimes  we 
have  special  services  to  different  classes  of  people.  I 
have  spoken  to  firemen,  Grand  Army  men,  and  others. 
We  allow  time  enough  to  elapse  to  make  them  a  little 
eager ;  then  their  faces  will  shine  with  enthusiasm ; 
they  like  them. 

Q. — What  about  night  schools?  How  are  the  ex- 
penses met  ? 

A. — The  fee  is  ten  cents  a  week,  in  the  morning. 
They  pay  for  themselves. 

Q. — Do  you  have  a  choir  ? 

A. — We  have  a  volunteer  choir,  with  a  paid  leader. 
I  have  occasionally  hired  singers.  We  have  a  pipe 
organ,  and  an  orchestra  that  is  supported  by  Mr. 
Wanamaker,  which  we  occasionally  use, 

Q. — Do  you  ask  laymen  to  conduct  services  ? 

A. — Oh,  yes  ;  we  ask  our  people  to  do  whatever  we 
want  them  to  do.  The  lay  members  conduct  the 
smaller  services. 

Q. — Do  you  have  rented  pews? 

A. — Yes,  sir. 

Q. — What  is  the  standard  of  membership  in  the 
order  of  Brotherhood  of  Andrew  and  Philip  ? 

A. — The  highest. 

Q. — How  do  you  ascertain  whether  they  are  faith- 
ful or  not  ? 


Memorial  Volume.  229 

A. — Everything  goes  by  tens.  There  are  twenty- 
five  bands  and  twenty-five  leaders.  The  leaders  are  in 
touch  with  each  other  and  with  the  pastor. 

Q. — From  what  source  do  you  get  your  largest  ac- 
cessions— fi'om  the  Sunday-school  or  fi-om  your  evan- 
gelistic work  ? 

A. — We  get  more  fi'om  the  outside  than  we  do  fi'om 
the  Sunday-school.  We  make  an  efibrt  to  get  heads  of 
families.  More  than  one-half  of  the  recent  accessions 
were  men. 

Q. — What  method  do  you  use  to  shepherd  the  lit- 
tle children  who  come  into  the  church  from  irreligious 
families? 

A. — We  look  after  them.      We  visit  their  families. 

Q. — How  are  colored  people  received? 

A. — We  would  receive  them  if  they  came? 

Q. — Do  you  ever  reject  applications  ? 

A. — Well,  we  have  a  very  high  standard  of  exami- 
nation, and  we  sometimes  ask  them  to  wait  for  another 
communion. 

Q. — What  about  outside  meetings  ? 

A. — Our  church  is  strongly  in  favor  of  central- 
ization, but  we  give  largely  to  all  the  missionary 
boards. 

Here  Mr.  Mills  took  the  platform,  and  said  :  While 
I  am  thoroughly  in  sympathy  with  Mr.  Chapman,  I 
have  been  called  to  visit  many  places,  and  I  should  be 
pleased  to  answer  any  questions ;  but  you  must  not 
hesitate  to  continue  questioning  Dr.  Chapman,  if  you 
wish. 

Q- — What  standard  is  required  from  the  teachers? 

A.  (J.  W.  C). — Our  requirements  are  high.  We 
do  not  assign   them  to  teach  unless  we  consider  them 


230  Mills  Meetings 

capable.  Even  then  we  appoint  an  assistant  to  super- 
vise them. 

Q. — What  are  your  terms  of  communion  ? 

A.  (J.  W.  C). — We  invite  all  who  believe  in  Jesus 
Christ. 

Q. — Do  you  use  the  envelope  system,  or  do  you 
assess  ? 

A.  (J.  W.  C). — We  let  them  assess  themselves, 
but  we  have  systematic  giving.  We  have  never  had 
any  trouble  to  raise  all  the  money  we  need. 

Q. — Do  you  use  the  night  school  to  induce  the 
people  to  come  into  the  church? 

A. — We  do  not.  We  send  them  to  night  school 
after  they  have  come  into  the  church. 

Q. — What  shall  we  do  with  members  of  the  church 
who  are  not  Christians? 

A.  \^.  Fay  Mills). — Hold  up  a  high  standard.  Get 
them  to  take  part.  Give  them  something  to  do.  Try 
to  touch  their  hearts.  Talk  plainly  to  them.  I  would 
not  dare  to  talk  as  plainly  in  my  evangelistic  work  as  I 
would  to  my  own  people. 

Q. — What  do  you  do  when  they  stay  away  from 
church  when  you  ask  them  to  take  part  ? 

A.  (Mills). — Try  to  make  the  prayer  meetings  so 
interesting  that  they  want  to  come. 

Q. — What  do  you  do  in  case  of  improper  conduct? 

A. — Different  cases  require  different  action,  I  would 
discipline  them,  if  necessary.  In  any  case,  do  n't  go 
after  them  like  a  policeman.  Baptize  them  with  ten- 
derness, plead  with  them,  pray  with  them. 

Q. — What  about  church  buildings? 

A.  (Mills). — Some  churches  are  built  on  the  princi- 
ple that  it 's  easy  to  get  in,   but  difficult  to  get  out. 


Memorial  Volume.  231 

You  should  build  a  church  like  you  would  a  factory — 
for  business  purposes.  Study  the  needs,  then  build 
accordingly.  Have  plenty  of  light  and  air,  plenty  of 
side  rooms  which  are  easy  of  access.  Sometimes  you 
can  save  a  man  by  getting  into  the  lecture  room  quickly. 

Q. — What  do  you  consider  the  best  arranged 
church  in  Cincinnati  ? 

^.— The  Central  Christian  Church  and  St.  Paul's 
Methodist  are  well  arranged. 

^._Why  shift  at  all? 

A.  (Mills). — The  fact  of  going  to  another  room  is 
of  itself  a  decided  step  in  the  right  direction.  But  I 
never  make  an  arbitrary  rule  in  this  matter,  but  do  as 
the  Spirit  directs.  Sometimes  I  do  n't  take  them  out 
of  the  room  at  all. 

Q. — Would  you  accept  an  invitation  from  a  colored 
congregation  to  preach  ? 

A.   (Mills).— Certainly  I  would. 

Q. — Does  multiplying   methods  weaken  the  spirit? 

A.  (Mills). — An  organization,  to  be  a  power,  must 
be  a  growth.  Let  the  Spirit  of  God  move  you.  I 
believe  in  organization  ;  I  believe  that  it  develops  power. 

Q. — What  do  you  think  of  fairs  and  suppers? 

A.  (Mills). — If  you  can  use  them  to  get  people  to 
come  to  church,  or  to  win  souls,  they  are  a  good  thing. 
Dr.  Newall  used  to  get  the  people  together,  and  then 
preach  to  them.  As  a  means  of  raising  money,  they 
are  an  unmitigated  curse. 

Q.  (B,  Fay  Mills). — What  is  the  most  successful 
method  that  can  be  used  to  save  souls  ? 

A.  (Rev.  Robbins). — I  lay  my  sermon  down  on  a 
chair  and  pray  over  it,  and  then  go  to  church,  expect- 
ing some  one  to  be  saved. 


232  Mills  Meetings 

(Remark  by  B.  Fay  Mills). — That 's  one  of  the  great 
features  of  success. 

A.   (By ). — Consecration  and  prayer. 

A.   (By ). — Induce  the  people  to  tell  what  they 

have  done  for  Christ. 

Q. — How  do  you  prepare  your  sermons? 

A.  (Mills). — A  sermon  is  not  a  work  of  art  simply. 
^rA  screw-driver  is  intended  to  turn  screws.  The  fact 
that  it  has  a  gold  handle  neither  adds  to  nor  detracts 
from  its  value  if  it  turns  the  screws.  A  sermon  is 
intended  to  bring  souls  to  Christ,  and  is  effective  just 
in  proportion  as  it  does  this. 


AFTERNOON  MEETINGS,   NINTH  STREET 
BAPTIST  CHURCH. 

February  laTH  to  26TH,  2:30  p.  m. 

When  this  volume  shall  have  become  history,  and 
much  of  the  flush  incident  to  a  great  revival  shall  have 
passed  away,  many  will  realize  that  deep  impressions, 
stirring  the  soul  to  higher  life,  inducing  meditation  and 
much  prayer,  were  received  at  the  meetings  held  in 
the  Ninth  Street  Baptist  Church  every  afternoon  (ex- 
cept Saturday)  from  February  1 2th  to  26th. 

A  marked  feature  of  the  revival  of  which  this  vol- 
ume, limited  to  a  brief  mention,  is  but  a  partial  history, 
is  that  it  has  offered  the  gospel  to  all  who  chose  to  re- 
ceive it.  The  thought  that  stands  in  bold  relief  is  that 
all  classes  have  been  sought  and,  in  the  case  of  thou- 
sands, reached  by  the  gospel.  A  redeeming  Christ  has 
been  offered  alike  to  the  child  entering  upon  the  first 
firm  steps  in  life,  and  to  the  one  whose   footfalls  beat 


NINTH    STREET   BAPTIST    CHl'RCH. 


Memorial  Volume.  233 

life's  requiem.     The  light  has  been  held  aloft,  and  its 
life-giving  beams  have  fallen  upon  all. 

The  different  meetings  have  each  had  a  distinguish 
ing  character,  in  many  cases  determined  by  the  time 
of  meeting,  the  persons  composing  the  congregation, 
or  the  themes  selected.  The  afternoon  meetings  held 
at  the  Ninth  Street  Baptist  Church  were  stamped  with 
the  impress  of  restfulness.  The  church,  which  is  one 
of  the  largest  in  the  city,  was  well  filled  at  each  meet- 
ing with  a  congregation  of  thoughtful,  earnest  seekers 
for  higher  light  and  deeper  consecration. 

Mingled  with  those  whose  hearts  were  warm  to- 
ward the  home  of  their  spiritual  birth,  were  those 
whose  lives  had  caught  the  fire  from  off  the  altar  of  the 
one  great  Church  of  Christ,  and  whose  brotherhood 
and  sisterhood  in  Christ  made  any  sanctuary  where 
Christ  was  held  aloft  for  the  healing  of  mankind  a 
blest  abiding  place. 

The  meetings  held  here  were  largely  composed  of 
those  who  had  felt  the  thrill  of  new  born  spiritual  life, 
and  who,  with  lips  still  fresh  from  the  draughts  of  the 
water  of  life,  longed  to  drink  still  deeper. 

The  services  held  at  this  church  were  to  a  very 
large  extent  addressed  to  Christians,  and  no  services 
could  have  been  more  impressive,  or  have  created  a 
greater  desire  on  the  part  of  those  out  of  Christ  "to 
come  and  taste  and  try"  that  which  had  blessed  and 
quickened  the  eloquent  speakers  to  lives  of  consecra- 
tion and  power. 

Owing  to  a  misunderstanding,  a  large  number 
gathered  the  afternoon  before  the  formal  opening 
under  the  Rev.  B.  Fay  Mills,  and  in  the  absence  of  the 
leaders  were  addressed  by  Rev.  Johnston  Myers  and 


234  Mills  Meetings 

Rev.  W.  D.  Holt,  the  pastors,  from  the  text,  "She 
only  touched  the  hem  of  his  garment."  From  this 
informal  opening  until  the  close  on  Friday  afternoon, 
February  26th,  the  attendance  was  maintained  almost 
to  the  limit  of  the  seating  capacity. 

The  recording  of  the  services  at  each  station  is 
accompanied  by  the  same  regret,  that  the  limits  of 
this  volume  will  not  allow  a  fuller  consideration  of  the 
meetings,  all  of  which  brought  a  blessing  to  those  who 
were  present.  But  few  of  the  twelve  hundred  people 
who  were  present  at  the  service  held  February  15th 
will  ever  witness  a  service  more  impressive.  The 
meeting  was  opened  by  singing  "Blessed  Hour  of 
Prayer,"  and  "I  Need  Thee  Every  Hour,"  led  by  Mr. 
Lawrence  B.  Greenwood,  in  which  all  joined. 

After  prayer  by  Rev.  G.  R.  Robbins,  pastor  of 
Lincoln  Park  Baptist  Church,  and  a  solo  by  Mr.  Green- 
wood, Rev.  B.  Fay  Mills  spoke  with  unusual  depth  of 
pathos  upon  the  ' '  Enduement  of  Power  from  On  High. " 
His  sermon  was  a  strong  appeal  to  Christians  to  open 
wide  the  soul  gate  to  the  Spirit  of  God,  and  stirred  the 
hearts  of  those  who  heard  him  with  a  strong  desire  to 
become  worthy  to  be  made  a  dwelling  place  of  the 
Holy  Ghost. 

The  sermons  were  largely  those  which  had  been 
delivered  at  other  places,  mention  of  which  has  been 
made  in  other  sections  of  this  volume. 

Dr.  J.  Wilbur  Chapman  and  Mr.  Geo,  C.  Stebbins 
made  many  warm  friends  by  their  earnest  work  in  this 
series  of  meetings. 

At  all  these  meetings  were  to  be  found  representa- 
tives of  nearly  all  the  churches  cooperating  in  the  Mills 
movement,    and    friendships   were    formed,  and   some 


y,^^ 


kKV.  J.  A.  SHANNON. 

Pastor   of  Uniietl   Presbyierian   Church. 


REV.  C.  O.  SHI  REV. 

J'astor  of  Pilgrim   Chapel    Presbyterian 
Church. 


REV.  JOHNSTON    MVERS. 
Pastor  of  Ninth  §treet  Piaptist  Church 


REV.  J.  A.  MARKHA.M. 

Pastor   and    Superintendent    of  the    Union 
Bethel. 


Memorial  Volume,  ^35 

were  mellowed  by  the  thought,  so  often  heard  from 
this  pulpit,  that  one  day — that  great  day — "there 
shall  be  but  one  fold  and  one  shepherd." 


NOON-DAY  PRAYER  MEETINGS. 

These  meetings,  held  at  the  First  Presbyterian 
Church,  on  Fourth  street,  from  12  m.  to  12:45  p.  m. 
daily  (except  Sunday),  Rev.  Hugh  Gilchrist,  pastor, 
were  commenced  on  February  ist  and  continued  until 
March  5th. 

No  meetings  of  the  many  held,  not  even  including 
those  held  at  the  Music  Hall,  presented  as  many  unique 
features  and  brought  out  so  many  remarkable  phases  of 
this  great  revival  work. 

It  was  a  point  of  centralization,  a  meeting  place  for 
all  who  were  interested  in  the  work,  where  they  could 
come  into  close  touch  one  with  the  other. 

The  services  were  to  a  considerable  extent  those  of 
a  prayer  or  experience  meeting,  with  the  factor  always 
present,  that  a  broad  field  was  contributing  daily  its 
quota  of  testimony  to  the  value  of  the  services  being 
held  here  and  elsewhere. 

The  onlooker  at  these  meetings  might  have  experi- 
enced sensations  similar  to  those  of  a  man  standing  upon 
the  great  bridge  during  the  flood  that  swept  this  sec- 
tion some  years  ago,  when  below  in  the  turbid  waters 
drifted  the  wreckage  of  a  great  breaking  up ;  huge 
trees,  houses  that  had  once  been  homes,  and  all 
the  debris  that  the  fierce  waters  had  torn  from  their 
usual  resting  place  ;  but  there  would  have  been  this 
added  feeling,  that  whereas  the  flood  bore  upon  its 
bosom  only  tokens  of  devastation  and  loss,    this  flood 


236  Mills  Meetings 

lifted  high  its  glorious  messages  of  peace.  Man  touched 
man,  and  spoke  of  the  power  of  it  all;  the  power  of 
the  Gospel  of  Jesus  Christ  to  tear  down  the  barriers  of 
sin  and  rear  in  their  places  a  tabernacle  cleansed  for 
the  abiding  of  the  Spirit  of  God. 

Here,  perhaps  more  than  at  any  place  in  the  entire 
field  of  service,  men,  women  and  children  spoke 
words  never  to  be  forgotten  by  those  who  heard  them. 
Here  the  hundreds  of  requests  for  prayer  were  read, 
and  here  heads  bowed  daily  in  the  busiest  hours  of  the 
day,  to  petition  the  throne  of  grace  for  answer  to  the 
prayers.  And  answer  came.  Hundreds  rose  to  speak, 
in  affirmation  of  the  truth  of  the  words  of  the  Master, 
"Seek,  and  ye  shall  find,"  and  told  how  they  had 
sought,  and  found  Him  who  alone  can  give  perfect 
peace.  Testimony  piled  upon  testimony  proved  be- 
yond the  possibility  of  a  doubt  that  we  serve  a  prayer- 
hearing  and  a  prayer-answering  God. 

The  services  consisted  of  the  discussion  of  a  topic, 
which  was  announced  the  day  previous  by  a  card  sus- 
pended in  the  rear  of  the  pulpit.  This  was  usually  in- 
formal and  somewhat  brief,  leaving  a  large  part  of  the 
forty-five  minutes  for  prayer  and  testimony. 

They  were  conducted  by  Rev.  B.  Fay  Mills  and 
Mr.  Greenwood,  assisted  by  Dr.  J.  Wilbur  Chapman 
and  Mr    Stebbins  during  their  stay. 

The  topic  chosen  was  made  the  central  thought, 
and  around  it  were  woven  the  prayers  and  in  many 
cases  the  testimonies. 

These  meetings  were  attended  daily  by  a  very  large 
proportion  of  the  ministers  in  the  combination,  and  were 
a  favorite  place  for  the  recent  converts,  who,  no  doubt, 
felt  less  timidity  here  than  in  the  larger  meetings.     The 


Memorial  Volume.  237 

testimonies  of  these  converts  were  in  many  cases  re- 
markable, and  in  some  cases  startling;  and  here  the 
progress  of  spiritual  growth  could  be  studied,  and  the 
working  of  grace  seen  in  the  faces  and  gleaned  from  the 
words  of  those  who  took  part.  Some  who  rose  for  prayer 
in  the  earUer  meetings  grew  bold  to  confess  Christ  here  ; 
and  having  felt  the  peace  that  comes  of  restfulness 
with  God,  spoke  with  greater  confidence  each  time. 

Old  men  gave  testimony  of  their  disenthrallment 
from  sin,  and  young  girls  just  budding  into  womanhood 
spoke  tenderly  of  His  peace  and  rest. 

At  the  request  of  many,  we  give  the  themes  sug- 
gested for  the  month  of  February.  On  each  Monday 
was  held  what  has  been  termed,  with  justice,  the  Good 
Cheer  Meetings,  in  which  reports  of  the  work  and  its 
success  were  read.  Spoken  and  silent  thanks  ascended 
to  the  Giver  of  all  good,  for  the  blessed  answers  to  the 
many  prayers. 

No  regret  could  be  keener  than  the  realization  that 
many  of  these  cheering,  soul-inspiring  messages  can 
not  be  incorporated  in  this  volume.  We  give  a  partial 
report  of  the  Good  Cheer  Meeting  held  February  15th, 
and  will  record  some  of  the  most  striking  testimonies 
in  the  chapter  on  Incidentals. 

"Good  cheer  meeting."  "Open  thy  mouth  wide." 
'' Conditions  of  revival. "  "  Limiting  God."  "  Lord,  is 
it  I?"  "Prayer  for  a  great  Sunday."  "Good  cheer 
meeting."  "Have  you  received  the  Holy  Ghost?" 
"How  can  a  man  know  God?"  "Whatsoever  He 
saith  unto  you,  doit."  "Are  you  willing?"  "Prayer 
for  a  great  Sunday."  "Good  cheer  meeting."  "Ac- 
cording to  your  faith."  "  With  all  your  heart."  "The 
peace  of  God."     "What  shall  we  have   therefore?" 


238  Mills  Meetings 

"  Prayer  for  a  great  Sunday."  "  Good  cheer  meeting." 
"A  clean  heart."  "Power  from  on  High."  "My 
Beloved  is  mine."  "  I  am  His."  "  Prayer  for  a  great 
Sunday."    "  Good  cheer  meeting." 

As  will  be  seen  by  the  list  of  subjects,  it  was  the 
aim  of  the  evangelist  to  lead  the  people  of  God  up  to 
higher  planes  of  Christian  thought  and  life.  Every  day 
was  a  further  revelation  of  what  is  necessary  to  the 
soul  that  would  come  into  complete  harmony  with  its 
Creator  in  order  that  He  might  use  it  for  the  accom- 
plishment of  His  great  purposes.  The  appeals  to  the 
reason,  to  the  conscience,  and  to  the  heart,  were  so 
strong  as  to  bring  from  many  lukewarm,  indifferent 
professors,  confessions,  and  resolutions  to  live  better 
and  holier  lives  in  future. 

This  was  fully  demonstrated  at  the  later  meetings, 
when  many  of  these  persons  gave  testimony  that  they 
had  been  quickened  and  greatly  blessed  through  the 
instructive  suggestions  of  the  leaders. 

Throughout  the  entire  series  of  meetings  a  fev/  im- 
portant truths  were  enforced  every  day,  such  as  the 
following:  God  is  not  limited  in  His  power  when 
people  are  willing  and  ready. 

The  absolute  need  of  the  enduement  of  the  Holy 
Spirit  for  service,  and  the  certainty  of  every  Christian 
receiving  such  enduement  if  he  possessed  a  clean  heart, 
a  willing  mind,  undoubting  faith,  and  sought  the  gift 
with  his  whole  heart.  Large  numbers  of  those  in  at- 
tendance were  led  to  seek  this  power,  and  testimonies 
were  heard  from  time  to  time  that  they  had  received  it. 

Another  excellent  result  attained  through  the  prac- 
tical suggestions  of  the  evangelists  was  that  many  were 
led  to  a  more  thorough  study  of  God's  word.     Both 


Rl':\'-   Iv   1..   WARREN,  D.  D. 

P.Tsior  of  Clifton   I'resbyterian  Churc 


Ri';\'.  joiiN  pi<:ars(>n,  )>.d. 

Presiiliiiir   F.kler  M    E.  Church. 


REV.  \V.  L).  Hoi/r. 

Associate  Past^ir  of  Ninth  Street  P.apti-t 
Chiircli. 


REV.  D.  J.  STARR,  D.  I). 

P.istnr  of  Peni-1  Street  M.  E.  Church 


Memorial  Volume.  239 

Mr.  Mills  and  Dr.  Chapman  requested  all  who  testified 
in  the  meetings  in  reference  to  their  own  acquisitions 
in  the  Christian  life  to  do  so  with  a  passage  of  Scrip- 
ture. If  they  asked  reasons  for  living  the  Christian 
life,  those  reasons  were  to  be  suggested  in  a  quotation 
from  the  word.  Experiences  were  also  to  be  founded 
upon  the  word.  E.ecommendations  of  God's  grace 
were  to  be  given  in  a  scriptural  text.  Thus  all  who 
took  any  part  in  the  services  were  led  from  day  to  day 
to  study  the  Bible,  and  many  things,  new  and  rich, 
were  brought  forth. 

Another  feature  worthy  of  special  notice  was  the 
cultivation  of  brevity  in  speech  and  prayer.  Specific 
prayer  was  all  that  was  asked  for  or  expected.  Peo- 
ple were  taugiit  to  pray  to  God,  rather  than  to  pray  to 
the  ears  of  the  people. 

Without  question,  the  meetings  were  exceedingly 
helpful  to  all  of  God's  people,  quickening  the  almost 
lifeless,  stimulating  the  indifferent,  and  energizing  all 
for  a  new  and  better  service.  Tears  of  sorrow  for  sin, 
confessions  of  back-sliding,  and  resolves  from  all 
classes  of  Christians  were  often  heard.  The  unsaved 
were  always  present,  and  almost  every  day  from  five  to 
twenty  would  arise  and  request  the  prayers  of  God's 
people  that  they  might   be  led  into  the  light. 

The  attendance  was  large  and  regular,  the  spacious 
auditorium  being  always  well  filled.  Business  men 
and  people  from  the  suburbs  attended  in  large  num- 
bers.    The  audience  often  numbered  a  thousand. 

The  blessed  results  from  these  meetings  will  never 
be  fully  known,  but  a  multitude  will  never  cease  to  thank 
God  that  they  were  held  as  they  look  back  upon  them 
as  the  dates  of  a  new  and  higher  life  within  their  souls. 


240  Mills  Meetings 

REPORT  OF  GOOD   CHEER  MEETING. 
Held  Monday,  February  18. 

Mr.  Mills  spoke  of  what  was  accomplished  on  the 
Sabbath. 

"The  rain  came  down  copiously  on  the  outside, 
and  the  showers  of  blessing  decended  on  the  in" 
side  of  the  churches.  Tell  us  now  about  the  work 
done  in  your  Sunday-schools ;  give  us  personal  in- 
stances of  conversion  that  you  think  might  be  help- 
ful. Tell  us  anything  of  an  encouraging  nature.  If 
anybody  knows  of  anything  that  is  discouraging,  let 
him  keep  quiet." 

Some  of  the  responses  were  the  following : 

From  a  middle-aged  gentleman  :  ' '  Last  night  I 
attended  the  first  after-meeting  I  ever  attended  in  my 
life,  and  was  blessed  in  having  my  three  children  come 
to  the  Lord.     There  is  joy  in  my  home  to-day." 

From  Rev.  A.  M.  Dawson,  pastor  of  the  Poplar 
street  Presbyterian  Church :  ' '  Forty-eight  came  to 
Christ  in  our  Sunday-school  proper;  thirty-eight  in  the 
primary  department.  There  was  never  such  a  day  as 
yesterday  in  the  history  of  our  school." 

From  a  representative  of  the  Fifth  Presbyterian 
Church:  "I  never  saw  such  a  Sunday-school  serv- 
ice as  that  of  yesterday.  Whole  classes  signed  the 
cards." 

From  Rev.  C.  O.  Shirey,  pastor  of  the  Mt.  Adams 
Presbyterian  Church  :  "A  large  class  of  pupils  in  our 
school,  which  we  had  never  previously  been  able  to 
reach,  signed  the  cards.  There  were  forty  professions 
made  altogether. " 


Memorial  Volume.  241 

From  Rev.  F.  Granstaff,  pastor  of  the  Fifth  Pres 
byterian  :  "I  have  preached  for  nine  years,  and  it 
seems  as  if  I  never  did  anything  until  yesterday." 

From  a  lady  representative  of  the  McMicken  Wo 
man's  Industrial  School:  "We  had  a  little  of  heaven 
on  earth  at  our  school,  last  Saturday.  When  I  asked 
the  scholars  how  many  were  willing  to  serve  Jesus, 
fifty-seven  little  hands  went  up." 

From  Rev.  J.  F.  Patton,  pastor  of  the  Dayton 
street  Baptist  Church:  "I  did  not  believe  that  Mr. 
Mills'  plan  would  work  in  our  Sunday-school,  but  it 
did.  Twenty-nine  signed  the  cards.  There  was  a 
young  man  in  my  Bible  class  who  was  not  a  Christian, 
and  he  became  one,   to  our  great  joy. " 

From  Rev.  J.  C.  Smith,  pastor  of  the  Reformed 
Presbyterian  Church:  "I  belong  to  a  church  very 
conservative  in  the  matter  of  revivals.  All  Saturday 
night  nearly  I  lay  awake  planning  and  praying  for  the 
work  on  the  Sabbath.  Every  one  in  our  school,  not  a 
church  member,  was  converted.  We  had  forty  cards 
signed  in  all." 

From  a  representative  of  the  Sixth  Pi-esbyterian : 
"  One  hundred  and  sixteen  came  to  the  Lord  in  our 
school. " 

From  Rev.  D.  J.  Starr,  pastor  of  the  East  Pearl 
street  Methodist  Church:  "There  were  twenty  persons 
who  consecrated  themselves  to  the  Lord  at  our  church 
yesterday,  ranging  in  age  from  twelve  to  sixty." 

From  Rev.  G.  R.  Robbins,  pastor  of  the  Lincoln 
Park  Baptist  Church  :  * '  Thirty-eight  cards  were  signed 
with  us.  Yesterday  was  the  greatest  day  Cincinnati 
ever  had." 

From    Dr.    J.    J.    Francis,     of    the     Presbyterian 


242  Mills  Meetings 

Church  :  "I  preached  last  night  by  appointment  of  the 
Devotional  Committee  in  McKendree  M.  E.  Church 
to  a  union  meeting  of  the  East  End  churches.  It  was  a 
grand  gathering  of  more  than  five  hundred  people,  and 
a  number  signed  the  cards.  The  brethren  in  the  East 
End  say  it  was  one  of  the  largest  and  best  meetings 
ever  held  in  that  section  of  the  city." 

From  a  stranger :  "I  live  at  Greenfield,  eighty-five 
miles  away,  and  I  want  to  say  that  your  work  is  felt  at 
that  distance.  Fifty-one  were  brought  to  Christ  in  our 
church  yesterday." 

At  Riverside  there  were  one  hundred  and  fifty  con- 
versions. A  remarkable  case  was  that  of  a  young  boy 
who  stood  up  and  professed  conversion  before  the 
invitation  was  given. 

At  the  Cumminsville  Presbyterian  Church  65  signed 
cards;  at  the  First  English  Lutheran,  123  ;  at  Pilgrim 
Chapel,  64 ;  at  the  Central  Congregational,  6^  ;  at  the 
First  Presbyterian,  G'j  \  at  the  Fifth  Presbyterian,  58; 
at  the  Columbia  Congregational,  33  ;  at  the  West 
Sixth  Street  Mission,  39  ;  at  the  Mohawk  Presbyterian, 
23  ;  at  miscellanous  churches,  214. 

The  total  reported  to  the  chairman  of  the  Execu- 
tive Committee  for  the  city  up  to  Monday  morning  was 
1,534;  for  Mt.  Auburn  and  Walnut  Hills,  1,474;  for 
Covington,  547.  It  is  thought  that  there  are  enough 
more  not  yet  reported  to  raise  the  number  to  five  thou- 
sand. 

The  following  requests  for  prayer  were  selected 
from  an  accumulation  numbering  several  hundred,  in 
addition  to  hundreds,  perhaps  thousands,  of  requests 
made  in  person,  for  the  one  speaking  or  some  dear 
friend  or  relative. 


Memorial  Volume.  243 

**  Ask  the  Holy  Spirit  to  touch  my  father's  and  my 
brother's  heart,  and  to  give  me  faith  to  beheve  that  He 
will  do  it." 

* '  A  wife  desires  a  special  interest  in  the  prayer  of 
God's  children  for  the  conviction  and  conversion  of  her 
husband  now;  also  for  two  dear  uncles." 

*  *  Please  ask  for  prayer  for  the  consecration,  full  and 
entire,  of  a  Christian  friend." 

"  Please  bring  my  husband  before  the  throne  of 
grace  on  Saturday.  A  lonesome  wife,  who  could  do  so 
much  good  if  he  were  a  Christian." 

"Pray  for  my  Sunday-school  class,  that  every  one 
of  the  eleven  young  ladies  may  be  converted  and  have 
cleansed  hearts." 

"Pray  for  the  Y.  P.  S.  C.  C.  of  Pleasant  Ridge 
Presbyterian  Church,  that  it  may  be  a  'great  Sunday' 
for  them  and  their  consecration  meeting." 

"Please  pray  forme,  that  I  may  lay  aside  every 
weight  and  the  sin  that  doth  so  easily  beset  me,  and 
that  I  may  run  with  patience  the  race  that  is  set  before 
me.  One  who  wants  to  be  a  true  soldier  of  the  cross 
and  follower  of  the  Lam_b. " 

* '  Please  pray  for  the  descent  of  the  Holy  Spirit 
upon  the  Norwood  Methodist  Church  to-morrow  night, 
in  the  salvation  of  souls." 

"  I  request  prayers  for  my  two  brothers,  that  they 
may  accept  Christ." 

*  *  A  mother  and  sister  request  prayers  for  the  con- 
version of  an  invahd  brother." 


244  Mills  Meetings 

"  I  ask  prayers  for  three  lady  and  two  gentlemen 
friends,  that  they  trust  Christ  for  their  soul's  salva- 
tion." 

"  I  request  prayer  for  a  young  lady  and  two  gen- 
tlemen friends,  that  they  may  trust  Christ." 

'  *  A  widowed  mother  for  her  boys.  The  oldest,  a  man 
of  forty;  who  was  converted  when  a  boy,  and  for 
several  years  walked  with  God.  But  when  he  left 
home  to  go  to  school,  other  influences  seemed  to  draw 
him  away  from  God.  For  several  years  he  has  been 
immersed  in  business,  and  seems  to  care  for  little  else. 
He  is  the  same  kind  son  and  brother ;  but  lacks  the 
one  thir.g  needful,  w  lich  God  only  can  give.  Theyounger 
son  holds  on  to  the  faith  of  his  childhood  ;  but  has 
been  disappointed  in  everything  he  has  undertaken  to 
do.  He  says  he  is  afraid  he  is  not  doing  what  God 
wants  him  to  do,  or  he  would  not  so  frustrate  his  plans. 
Some  times  feels  he  ought  to  try  to  take  up  his  father's 
fallen  mantle,  and  enter  the  ministry.  Please  ask  the 
Lord  to  make  his  way  plain  to  him." 

"Please  pray  for  the  conviction  and  conversion  of 
a  widow,  her  son  and  two  daughters,  one  of  whom  is  a 
confirmed  invalid.  Their  lack  of  concern  about  their 
soul's  interest  is  distressing." 

"I  have  listened  to  some  of  your  sermons,  and  am 
convinced  that  you  mean  just  what  you  say  and  preach  ; 
therefore  I  would  like  to  obtain  that  peace  and  hope 
which  is  in  Christ  Jesus.  I  am  a  wicked  and  a  very 
bad  man.  So,  if  there  is  any  redemption  for  me,  I  want 
it,  I  want  it ;  life  is  very  burdensome  to  me,  dark, 
gloomy  and  without  hope.      It  is  a  terrible  state  to   be 


Memorial  Volume.  245 

in.  Please  remember  me  in  your  prayers,  and  the 
prayers  at  to-morrow's  meeting  at  12  o'clock.  I  will  be 
there  myself." 

Hundreds  of  requests  for  prayer  were  read  and 
spoken  in  these  fneetings.  We  have  given  only  a  few, 
selected  at  random,  as  illustrating  the  sincerity  and 
variety  of  these  appeals. 


MR.  MILLS  AT  THE  NORTH  PRESBYTERIAN 

CHURCH. 

Sabbath,  February  21. 

The  second  section  of  the  Western  District  is  com- 
prised of  the  churches  in  Cumminsville,  four  of  which 
entered  into  the  "Mills  movement "  with  heart  and 
hand — the  North  Presbyterian,  J.  M.  Anderson,  pas- 
tor; Wright  Chapel,  M.  E.,  J.  W.  Kelley,  pastor;  Fer- 
gus street  Christian,  W.  C.  Payne,  pastor,  and  Im- 
manuel  Baptist,  H.  C.  Lyman,  pastor.  Messrs.  Mills 
and  Greenwood  favored  this  section  with  a  service  for 
young  people,  on  Sabbath  afternoon,  February  21st. 
Large  delegations  were  present  from  the  M.  E. 
churches  of  Winton  Place  and  Camp  Washington. 

The  church  auditorium  was  filled  to  overflowing 
with  an  eager  throng  of  anxious  hearers.  Mr.  Mills 
preached  one  of  his  characteristic  sermons  from  the 
text,  "  Remember  now  thy  Creator  in  the  days  of  thy 
youth." 

At  the  same  hour  Dr.  J.  W.  Simpson,  of  Walnut 
Hills,  addressed  an  overflow  meeting,  that  nearly  filled 
the  lecture-room,  taking  for  his  text,  "  Look  unto  me, 
and  be  ye  saved. "   Both  sermons  were  eloquent,  persua- 


246  Mills  Meetings 

sive,  and  full  of  power.  Mr.  Greenwood  sang  one  of 
his   beautiful  solos  to  each  of  the  audiences. 

Nearly  one  hundred  and  fifty  signed  cards,  signifying 
their  desire  to  begin  a  Christian  life.  The  lecture-room 
was  emptied  and  refilled  with  those  who  had  signed 
cards,  and  those  who  wished  to  hear  further  from  Mr. 
Mills  concerning  the  way  of  salvation. 

The  Holy  Ghost  was  present,  the  churches  revived, 
scores  converted,  and  spiritual  impressions  made  that 
will  last  throughout  eternity. 


A  TYPICAL   SABBATH-SCHOOL  EVANGELIS- 
TIC SERVICE. 

It  has  been  the  desire  of  the  editors  to  describe  in 
some  form  the  characteristic  features  of  each  different 
form  of  service  connected  with  the  great  revival  move- 
ment. Very  few,  if  any,  of  these  services  produced  a 
deeper  impression,  or  were  more  fruitful  of  immediate 
results,  than  those  held  in  the  different  church  Sabbath- 
schools,  on  the  day  following  the  Saturday  evening 
Sabbath-school  Teachers'  Conference  in  each  district. 
At  Mr.  Mills,  suggestion,  the  usual  lessons  were  laid 
aside,  and  the  hour  was  spent  in  the  one  earnest  effort  to 
bring  the  scholars  to  Jesus.  The  result  was  the  expres- 
sion of  the  purpose  by  hundreds  to  begin  at  once  a 
Christian  life.  The  record  of  that  day  in  many  schools 
was  simply  marvelous.  At  our  urgent  request.  Rev. 
Frank  Granstaff,  pastor  of  the  Fifth  Presbyterian 
Church,  has  given  us  the  story  of  the  day  in  his  church. 
It  is  only  the  story  of  what  occurred  in  dozens  of  other 
Sabbath-schools. 


Memorial  Volume.  247 

bringing  a  sabbath-school  to  christ. 

Sabbath  morning,  February  14,  1892,  will  go  down 
in  the  history  of  the  Fifth  Presbyterian  Church  as  a 
time  of  gracious  reviving.  The  memorable  words  of 
the  Lord  Jesus  to  His  disciples,  "Ask,  and  ye  shall  re- 
ceive ;  seek,  and  ye  shall  find ;  knock,  and  it  shall  be 
opened  unto  you  ;  "  and  the  promise,  "If  two  of  you 
shall  agree  on  earth  as  touching  anything  that  they 
shall  ask,  it  shall  be  done  for  them  of  my  Father  which 
is  in  heaven,"  were  literally  fulfilled.  At  the  sugges- 
tion of  Mr.  Mills,  made  at  the  conference  for  Sabbath- 
school  workers,  held  in  the  Young  Men's  Christian 
Association  Hall,  on  Saturday  evening,  February  13, 
the  pastor,  officers  and  teacheis  of  the  school 
met  for  consecration  and  prayer  one  half-hour 
before  the  time  for  opening.  Every  teacher  was  pres- 
ent, and  all  were  in  the  spirit  of  prayer.  None  who 
were  there  can  ever  forget  the  prayers  that  were 
breathed  out  and  up — how  earnest  and  tender  they 
were.  The  scene  in  that  upper  little  room  must  ever 
be  a  thing  of  precious  memory.  And  while  we  were 
all  "with  one  accord  in  one  place, "the  Spirit  came  in 
mighty  power. 

While  we  were  yet  praying,  the  school  began  to 
assemble.  Before  the  hour  for  opening,  the  place 
where  we  were  was  filled  with  the  atmosphere  of  great 
tenderness.  There  was  a  holy  hush.  Those  who  had 
occasion  to  move  about  the  room,  moved  as  though 
they  would  say,  "  Be  still,  for  God  is  here." 

The  lesson  was  dispensed  with  for  the  morning,  and 
the  teachers  spoke  to  their  classes  only  of  coming  to 
Christ.     God  owned  the  effort,  and  blessed  it.     When 


243  Mills  Meetings 

opportunity  was  given  for  all  to  stand  up  who  had 
given  themselves  to  Jesus,  sixty-eight  stood  up.  This 
was  but  the  beginning.  The  good  work  goes  on.  One 
hundred  and  twenty-five  in  the  congregation  have  sig- 
nified their  desire  and  intention  of  being  Christians. 

Situated  as  we  are,  without  a  church  home,  during 
the  erection  of  our  new  house  of  worship,  occupying  a 
small  hall  in  the  Wesleyan  Womans'  College,  we 
had  hardly  dared  to  hope  for  more  than  a  few  of  the 
"mercy  drops  ;"  but  God  put  to  shame  our  feeble  faith, 
doing  for  us  exceedingly  above  and  beyond  that  we 
were  able  to  ask  or  think.  He  has  visited  us  with 
"showers  of  blessing."  "The  Lord  has  done  great 
things  for  us,  whereof  we  are  glad." 

And  the  end  is  not  yet.  Indeed  the  work  among 
us  seems  only  favorably  begun. 

"  Still  there's  more  to  follow, 
More  and  more — 
Always  more  to  follow." 


MUSIC  HALL  MEETINGS. 


It  can  not  be  denied  that  the  ^yorkers  experienced 
some  little  anxiety  in  the  last  few  hours  before  the 
opening  of  the  Music  Hall  meetings.  True,  the  meet- 
ings had  been  large  and  very  enthusiastic  in  other  dis- 
tricts, but  there  had  been  many  meetings,  and  there 
were  those  who  had  expressed  the  opinion  that  the 
meetings  at  Music  Hall  would  not  come  up  to  the  ex- 
pectation of  the  workers.  But  all  fears  and  carpings 
were  forever  set  at  rest  several  hours  before  the  time 
set  for  the  opening  of  the  doors  on  Monday,  February 
22nd,  at  7:15  p.  M,  The  people  came  at  6  p.  m.,  a 
small  group,  which  grew  by  tens,  then  hundreds,  then 
thousands,  until  before  the  opening  of  the  doors  thou- 
sands had  gathered,  to  prove  beyond  doubt  that  the 
spiritual  food  which  had  been  served  so  bountifully  at 
the  many  previous  services  had  only  whetted  the  appe- 
tite for  the  banquet  of  good  things  to  be  spread  at 
Music  Hall. 

The  doors  were  opened  at  7: 15, and  in  a  few  moments 
every  seat  in  the  house  was  taken  and  the  crowd  press- 
ing in  not  perceptibly  diminished.  The  people  crowded 
the  aisles,  the  rear  of  the  balcony,  and  every  available 
place  that  would  afford  resting  place  for  a  human  being, 
and  still  they  came,  until  it  became  necessary  to  close 
the  doors  and  turn  away  thousands  who  desired  to 
come  in. 

There  had  been  many  prayers  sent  up  for  this 
result,  and  human  effort  had  been  put  forward  for  its 
accomplishment,    yet  many  were  surprised  when    the 


250  Mills  Meetings 

prayers  answered  brought  a  greater  blessing  than  could 
be  cared  for,  at  least  in  Music  Hall  that  night. 

For  a  few  moments  the  crowd  seemed  unman- 
ageable, the  ushers  being  unable  to  move  about  in  the 
densely  packed  throng ;  but  when  the  great  organ, 
under  the  deft  touch  of  Miss  Rebecca  Snyder,  blended 
its  volume  of  harmony  with  the  voices  of  the  choir  of 
seven  hundred,  as  if  by  magic  that  great  body  of 
people  settled  into  restful  expectancy. 

This  was  the  beginning  of  a  series  of  meetings  last- 
ing two  weeks,  which  many  times  tested  the  capacity 
of  Music  Hall  to  the  fullest  extent.  At  no  time  or 
place  was  the  power  of  B.  Fay  Mills  so  fully  man- 
ifested as  in  the  management  of  the  great  gatherings 
that  were  drawn  to  hear  the  word  of  God  as  preached 
by  him.  He  never  lost  the  master  grasp  upon  the  multi- 
tudes, holding  a  congregation  of  five  thousand  as  com- 
pletely under  his  control  as  though  they  were  but  a 
dozen. 

It  was  an  inspiring  sight !  The  great  crowd  looked 
into  the  faces  of  the  seven  hundred  who  constituted 
the  choir,  and  then  upon  the  group  of  pastors  repre- 
senting the  combination  of  seventy  churches,  and  felt 
the  thrill  that  steals  upon  the  human  soul  when  great 
interests  are  at  stake.  The  union  of  men  for  any  pur- 
pose is  usually  a  manifestation  of  power,  but  here  in 
the  union  of  the  people  of  God  was  an  indication  that 
all  personal  or  non-essential  elements  had  been  cast 
aside  for  the  accomplishment  of  a  great  work,  the 
greatest  work  that  human  beings  can  undertake — the 
salvation  of  men. 

As  the  pastors  pressed  shoulder  to  shoulder  in  a 
common  cause,   so  in  that  great  auditorium  the  people 


Memorial  Volume.  25  i 

looked  into  each  other  faces  to  ask  but  one  question, 
"  Are  you  a  Christian?"  and  an  affirmative  answer  was 
almost  a  covenant  to  reach  forth  in  unity  toward  some 
one  yet  unsaved. 

Mr.  Lawrence  B.  Greenwood-  led  the  singing,  and 
it  took  but  a  few  moments  to  demonstrate  that  he  had 
drawn  them  into  sympathy  with  him  in  the  song  pray- 
ers to  the  Master.  They  sang  with  a  volume  and  power 
that  filled  the  Music  Hall  with  the  rich  melody  of  the 
gospel  songs. 

After  a  sympathetic  rendition  of  the  song,  "  Christ 
Arose,"  by  Mr.  Greenwood,  Rev.  B.  Fay  Mills  read  a 
few  verses  from  the  Book  of  Revelation,  then  invited 
the  congregation  to  bow  their  heads  in  a  silent  prayer 
for  the  consecretion  of  this  great  hall  to  the  service  of 
God.  Bishop  Joyce,  of  Chattanooga,  led  in  fervent 
prayer,  asking  the  blessing  of  the  Most  High  God  on 
the  effort  to  be  put  forward  for  the  redemption  of 
men. 

After  a  service  of  song  in  which  the  entire  congre- 
gation joined  the  choir,  Mr.  Mills  preached  a  powerful 
sermon  from  the  text,  "Woe  to  them  that  are  in  ease 
in  Zion  "  (Amos  vi.  i). 

The  sermon  was  a  strong  and  eloquent  appeal  to 
professing  Christians  to  live  up  to  their  professions,  and 
was  illustrated  with  many  suggestive  word  pictures 
bearing  upon  the  thread  of  his  discourse. 

He  made  it  very  apparent  to  his  hearers  that  con- 
sistent Christianity  meant  living  Christlike  lives,  and 
that  a  professor  living  less  than  this  was  a  hindrance  to 
the  advancement  of  the  cause  of  the  Master. 

After  the  service  was  held  an  after-meeting  in 
which   a   large   number  expressed  their  desire   to   re- 


252  Mills  Meetings 

consecrate  themselves,  and  many  others  took  their  first 
step  toward  the  Kingdom  of  Christ. 

The  great  gathering  of  the  opening  night  made  a 
profound  impression  upon  the  minds  of  all  who  heard 
of  it,  and  for  two  or  three  meetings  many  remained 
away  who  would  have  gone  if  they  had  supposed  that 
they  could  obtain  a  seat.  Notwithstanding  this,  fully 
five  thousand  were  present  on  Tuesday  evening, 
within  a  few  minutes  of  the  opening  hour,  7:15. 
The  great  choir — the  faithful  choir — filled  the  platform, 
and  the  services  gained  in  solemnity  what  they  lost 
in  numbers.  The  services  of  the  two  weeks  in 
this  great  hall  were  a  revelation  to  all  who  at- 
tended them  ;  and  while  no  human  being  will  ever 
know  how  many  were  present,  many  will  recognize  the 
fact  that  no  two  services  were  alike.  Indeed  the  won- 
derful powers  of  adaptation  to  all  circumstances  and  to 
all  classes  has  been  remarked  by  those  who  have  at- 
tended the  preaching  of  Mr.  Mills. 

It  will  be  noticed  that  in  the  services  that  follow  the 
needs  of  all  classes  have  been  considered,  services  for 
men  alone,  young  people,  mothers,  Christians  bold  and 
Christians  trembling,  sturdy  mothers  and  fathers  in  Is- 
rael, converts  just  entering  into  the  light  of  life,and  those 
who  have  not  courage  to  take  the  first  step.  The  field 
of  human  relationship  to  God  was  touched  at  all  points 
by  sermons  appealing  to  all  attributes.  The  Gospel 
was  held  as  the  sole  light  of  the  soul,  to  guide  alike  the 
trembling  beginner  and  the  strong,  vigorous  professor. 


After  the  song  service  by  the  choir,  led  by  Mr. 
Lawrence  B.  Greenwood,  the  services  of  the  second 
night  were  opened  by  a  prayer  by  Dr.  Wm.  McKibbin. 


REV.  M.  C.  LOCKWOOD. 
Pastor  of  First  Baptist  Church. 


i 


REV.  A.  M.  DAWSON. 

Pastor  of  Poplar   Street   Presbyterian 
Church. 


REV.  F.  K.  WALKER. 

Pastor  uf   Richmond    Street   Christian 
Churcli. 


REV.  G.  R.  ROBBINS. 
Pastor  of  Lincoln    Park   Baptist   Church 


Memorial  Volume.  253 

Mr.  Mills  took  for  his  text,  "Let  the  wicked  forsake 
his  way"  (Isaiah  v.  7).  The  sermon  was  pointed  and 
plain,  developing  the  thought  that  sin  may  be  present 
in  those  who  least  realize  its  presence.  A  few  brief 
extracts  will  recall  to  those  who  heard  him  the  contents 
of  his  sermon. 

"Let  the  wicked  forsake  his  way."  It  may  be 
that  some  people  will  settle  back  in  their  seats  to-night 
as  much  as  to  say,  "  Well,  now,  if  he  is  going  to  talk 
to  the  wicked,  we  will  look  on." 

So  it  is  that  the  first  question  is  this,  Who  is  the 
wicked  man  ?  Anybody  who  is  not  clean  and  pure  in 
the  sight  of  God  and  in  his  relations  to  his  fellow-men. 
I  am  sure  that  those  of  you  who  are  not  Christians  will 
bear  me  out  when  I  say  that  most  Christians  are  striv- 
ing to  depart  from  iniquity.  Two-thirds  of  my  ser- 
mons have  been  directed  to  Christians,  and  have  had  for 
their  object  the  persuasion  of  Christians  to  live  up  to 
their  doctrines. 

We  need  to  make  a  distinction  here  between  two 
classes  of  men  called  morally  good.  One  of  these  is 
of  men  who  are  good  in  every  way ;  they  pay  their 
debts  ;  they  do  not  say  unkind  things  about  the  church  ; 
and  they  always  show  that  they  are  lovers  of  law  and 
order.  And  yet  the  man  of  this  class  is  not  an  openly 
confessed  follower  of  Jesus  Christ.  Why  should  I 
call  him  wicked  ?  Because  he  does  not  live  entirely 
up  to  his  convictions. 

The  other  man  is  in  great  contrast  with  this  one. 
Nobody  would  know  that  he  was  righteous  if  he  was 
not  always  speaking  of  it.  He  occupies  an  exalted 
position,  and  presumes  to  criticise  the  lives  of  those 
around  him  and  the  church.      I  would  not  dare  to  criti- 


254  Mills  Meetings 

cise  the  Church  of  Jesus  Christ.  The  Pharisee  of  to-day 
is  not  in  the  church,  but  is  outside  of  it,  saying  unkind 
things  about  it.  For  this  class  of  people  the  Lord  did 
have  stinging  words.  He  called  them  "  whited  sepul- 
chers. "  Yielding  to  pride  is  as  bad  as  yielding  to  lust. 
The  critical  man  may  be  just  as  bad  in  God's  sight  as 
a  man  who  has  come  to  a  drunkard's  grave  through  an 
inherited  appetite  for  strong  drink.  Oh,  friend,  if  you 
belong  to  this  class  you  are  in  an  awful  state.  You 
may  say,  "  Peace,  peace,"  but  there  is  no  peace. 

And  then  again  this  word  applies  to  the  person  who 
says,  "  I  do  not  say  that  I  am  not  a  sinner;  I  know 
that  I  am.  But  what  of  it  ?"  This  is  the  most  dan- 
gerous condition  of  all.  If  I  am  asleep  in  a  burning 
house,  I  am  willing  that  people  should  come  and  bat- 
ter down  my  chamber  doors  and  cry,  "Flee  from  the 
dangers  around  you."  One  little  sin  will  poison  a  man 
through  all  eternity ! 

The  words  are  applicable  again  to  the  man  who 
says,  "I  want  to  get  rid  of  sin."  Can  you  tell  a  man 
how  to  get  rid  of  sin  ?  Yes,  I  can.  There  is  only  one 
way.  You  never  will  get  rid  of  your  sins  until  you 
give  up  sinning.  God  Almighty  will  never  save  any- 
body until  he  gives  up  his  sins.  The  bullet  is  in  the 
wound ;  and  you  may  take  all  sorts  of  remedies,  you 
may  flee  over  the  seas,  but  you  will  not  get  rid  of  the 
deadly  bullet  so  easily.  The  only  thing  for  you  to  do 
is  to  permit  the  probe  to  go  down  into  the  wounds. 
"Let  the  wicked  forsake  his  sin," 

Now  to  the  second  question.  Just  what  is  it  that 
God  asks  the  wicked  man  to  do  ?  We  have  God's 
word  for  it  that  he  must  forsake  his  sin.  You  may 
have  a  mother  that  would  die  for  you  ;  you  may  have 


Memorial  Volume.  255 

a  lather  that  would  pour  out  his  money  to  help  you ; 
and  yet  they  can  not  remove  in  the  slightest  the  burden 
of  your  sins. 

One  of  the  greatest  luxuries  some  people  have 
is  that  of  forsaking  some  other  person's  sins.  It  would 
not  be  very  hard  for  a  one-legged  man  to  give  up  danc- 
ing, or  a  blind  man  to  forego  sights  which  a  pure  man 
should  not  behold.  It  is  not  hard  to  forsake  sins  that 
have  no  hold  upon  us,  and  cling  to  those  that  have.  I 
have  a  little  niece,  Dolly,  who  was  visiting  once  at  her 
aunt's  house.  One  night  at  the  supper  table  her  aunt 
asked  her  if  she  would  not  have  some  pie.  "  No,"  she 
replied,  "my  mother  says  that  I  must  not  eat  pie." 
Her  mother  was  not  with  her,  and  we  thought  that 
Dolly's  conduct  was  very  exemplary.  But  the  next 
day  when  the  pie  was  passed  Dolly  took  a  piece. 
"Why,  Dolly, "  exclaimed  her  aunt,  "I  thought  that 
your  mother  told  you  not  to  eat  pie?"  "Well,"  said 
the  child,  "  I  didn't  like  the  kind  of  pie  you  had  yes- 
terday." [Laughter.]  I  did  not  mean  to  make  any- 
body laugh.  This  story  has  a  meaning  for  most  of  us. 
We  must  have  certain  kinds  of  pie,  when  we  know 
that  we  ought  to  give  up  all  kinds. 

Take  the  word  ' '  forsake. " 

It  is  a  great  word  that  reaches  out  and  takes  hold  of 
eternity.  You  are  going  along  a  highway.  You  come 
to  a  house  where  there  is  no  smoke  issuing  from  the 
chimney,  the  doors  are  locked  and  the  windows 
barred.  The  owner  of  that  house,  you  say,  is  gone 
away. 

You  come  to  another  house  where  the  windows  are 
broken,  and  the  doors  have  fallen  in.  You  say  the 
house  has  been  forsaken.     You  mean  that  the  owner 


256  Mills  Meetings 

has  left  it,  and  does  not  mean  to  come  back  to  it.    That 
is  what  forsaking  sin  means. 

Some  years  ago  I  knew  a  very  bright  young  man 
who  Hved  in  a  small  village  in  this  State  during  his  boy- 
hood, and  who  afterwards  got  employment  at  Akron. 
He  was  employed  by  an  express  company  which  very 
mysteriously  lost  twenty  thousand  dollars.  He  was  sus- 
pected of  having  taken  it,  but  it  could  not  be  proved 
against  him. 

He  went  away  into  the  West,  and  finally  in  his  wan- 
derings came  to  Chicago.  One  night  he  heard  Moody, 
and  after  the  meeting  he  went  up  to  the  evangelist  and 
made  a  clean  breast  of  the  theft.  "What  must  I  do 
now?"  he  asked.  "You  must  restore  the  money," 
said  Moody.  Well,  he  had  the  money,  and  consented, 
but  "what  then?"  What  would  you  have  said  to  him? 
Moody  told  him  to  pray,  and  God  would  direct  him. 
The  young  may  prayed  and  when  he  arose  his  mind 
was  made  up,  "  I  am  going  back  to  Akron,"  he  said. 
He  went  to  the  judge  who  had  tried  him  before,  and 
told  his  story.  He  plead  guilty,  and  was  sentenced  for 
three  years,  and  they  led  him  away  behind  prison  bars. 
For  the  first  time  in  many  years  this  man  was  free.  As 
the  time  drew  near  when  he  was  to  be  released  he  fell 
sick,  and  when  he  left  that  prison  he  went  out  in  a 
chariot  of  glory  sent  by  the  eternal  God.  His  brother 
said  that  they  could  almost  hear  the  sound  of  angels' 
wings  as  they  came  to  carry  the  penitent  soul  to  heaven. 
Friend,  if  you  have  sinned  there  is  nothing  that  can 
help  you  so  much  as  to  let  it  come  out. 

There  are  two  reasons  why  the  wicked  should  for- 
sake their  ways.  If  you  don  't  forsake  your  sins,  they 
will  never  forsake  you.     I  know  of  a  prisoner  who  pain- 


KEV.  A.  RITCHIE,  D.D. 

Secretary   of   Evangelical    Alliance,  and 

Memher  of  ISlills   Executive 

Committee. 


REV.  J.  M.  WALDEN,  D.D.,LL.D. 

F.i-ihop   of  M.  E.  Chunh.   and    Advisory 

Member   of   Mills   Executive 
Committee. 


REV.  G.  W.  LASHER,  D.D. 

Editor  of  "Journal   and    Messenger,' 

and  Advisory  Member  of  Mills 

Executive  Committee. 


REV.  F.  C.  MONTFORT,  D.  D. 

Eilitor  of  "  Herald  and  Presbyter,"  and 

Advisory     Member    of   Mills 

Executive  Committee. 


Memorial  Volume.  257 

fully  tunneled  his  way  out  of  his  cell  and  broke  the  last 
clod  of  earth  only  to  find  the  jailer  waiting  for  him.  I 
know  of  a  man  who  fled  from  the  East  to  the  West  to 
escape  his  bad  reputation,  but  found  his  old  record 
waiting  for  him  in  his  newly  chosen  home. 

Some  of  your  sins  will  go  before  to  the  judgment, 
and  some  will  follow  after.  The  other  reason  is  set  forth 
in  the  remaining  words  of  the  text:  "And  let  him  re- 
turn unto  the  Lord,  and  he  will  have  mercy  upon  him ; 
and  to  our  God,  for  He  will  abundantly  pardon." 

I  heard  once  of  a  very  dissipated  man.  One  night 
he  told  the  whole  story  of  his  evil  life  to  his  congrega- 
tion. After  the  service  he  stood  in  front  of  the  church 
talking  with  one  of  his  friends,  when  an  old  woman 
came  up  and  laid  an  arm  about  him  and  said  :  "Jimmy, 
my  boy,  you  never  were  bad.  Why  did  you  say  so?" 
The  great  heart  of  the  mother  had  forgotten  the  sins  of 
the  boy's  youth.  As  far  as  the  east  is  from  the  west, 
so  far  has  He  removed  our  transgressions  from  us. 
One  night  at  an  after-meeting  a  wretched  looking  man 
came  up  the  aisle  to  the  platform,  fumbling  on  the  way 
with  something  in  his  pocket.  I  thought  that  he  was 
about  to  pull  out  a  manuscript.  He  took  out  a  flask 
filled  with  whisky.  He  laid  it  down  on  the  platform 
and  turned  away,  saying:  "That  is  my  worst  enemy. 
Good-by!" 

I  wish  that  we  could  all  bring  up  our  sins  to-night — 
our  pride,  selfishness  and  unrighteousness,  and  lay 
them  on  God's  altar,  saying  to  every  one  of  them, 
"  Good  by  !"     Friends,  will  you  do  it  ? 

Mr.  Mills  then  asked  every  one  to  rise  who  would 
say,  "I  will  give  up  every  known  sin,  looking  to  God 
for  help."     This  was  applicable  to  every  person   pres- 


258  Mills  Meetings 

ent,    whether    a    church    member    or     not.      Nearly 
every  man,  woman  and  child  in  the  congregation  stood 

up.  

On  Wednesday,  February  24th,  the  service  was  for 
young  men,  upon  the  subject,  "The  perils  of  young 
men,"  and  four  thousand  listened  to  a  sermon  from  the 
text :     *'  Is  the  young  man  safe?" 

His  sermon  was  a  tender  appeal  to  young  men  to 
step  into  the  light  of  the  Gospel  of  Jesus  Christ  and 
brought  his  hearers  face  to  face  with  the  grand  truths 
of  the  Bible. 

He  clearly  indicated  the  dangers  that  He  in  the  path 
of  the  man  who  is  not  in  harmony  with  God,  and 
vividly  pictured  the  hopelessness  of  agnosticism.  He 
touched  strongly  upon  certain  important  facts,  drawing 
clear  distinctions  between  unbelievers  and  disbelievers. 
He  said: 

"  Is  the  skeptical  young  man  saved?  I  am  talking 
of  the  young  man  who  is  a  disbeliever.  He  is  quite 
different  from  the  young  man  who  is  an  unbeliever. 
The  latter  is  one  who  has  not  yielded  himself  to  God, 
while  the  disbeliever  is  one  who  is  opposing  the  claims 
of  Christ.  How  about  him  ?  He  is  not  happy.  I  have 
never  met  a  man  who  is  an  open  opponent  of  Jesus  Christ 
who  seemed  to  be  filled  with  the  spirit  of  peace,  and  I 
have  taken  pains  to  look  into  the  lives  of  the  great 
skeptics.  David  Hume  was  the  greatest  infidel,  as 
far  as  character  is  concerned,  of  whom  history  gives 
any  record.  He  said  at  one  time :  '  In  me  all  is  doubt 
and  contradiction,  and  about  me  all  is  doubt  and  dark- 
ness. I  am  confounded  with  questions  on  every  side.' 
Voltaire  was  the  most  brilliant  infidel  that  the  world 


Memorial  Volume.  259 

has  ever  seen.  This  man  said  that  he  believed  that 
man  was  the  most  wretched  of  all  possible  creatures ; 
that  he  spent  his  existence  in  cheating  and  being 
cheated,  and  as  far  as  he  was  concerned,  he  wished  that 
he  had  never  been  born." 

Mr.  Mills  grew  eloquent  at  times,  his  face  glowing 
with  earnestness,  as  he  voiced  his  faith  in  the  gospel  of 
Christ  to  fully  satisfy  every  human  need.  He  spoke  of 
the  perils  of  a  Christless  young  man,  and  they  sought 
to  win  them  for  Christ.  Many  availed  themselves  of  the 
opportunity  of  the  after-meeting  and  stepped  "over  the 
line." 


On  Thursday  evening,  Mr.  Mills  preached  upon 
secret  sins,  to  a  congregation  who  listened  intently  to  a 
searching  sermon.  The  great  choir  sung  with  the 
unison  of  greater  practise,  and  the  congregation  joined 
with  great  fervor  in  the  singing  of  the  gospel  songs. 
After  a  brief  prayer,  Mr,  Mills  read  the  nintieth 
Psalm,  and  then  selected  his  text  from  a  part  of  the 
eighth  verse  :  "Thou  hast  set  our  secret  sins  in  the 
light  of  thy  countenance." 

There  are  four  classes  of  secret  sins.  There  are  sins 
of  ignorance.  A  man  can  do  wrong  things  while  at  the 
time  he  did  not  know  they  were  wrong,  and  yet  they 
are  sins.  Criminal  ignorance  is  an  ignorance  of  prin- 
ciples that  he  ought  to  understand.  A  man's  idea  of 
right  is  a  very  delicate  conception,  and  it  grows  dull  by 
sinning.  After  a  man  has  been  leading  a  right  life  he 
will  find  out  more  and  more  things  that  are  wrong  that 
he  had  not  suspected  to  be  wrong.  Had  he  begun  a 
year  before  to  be  right  he  would  see  where  his  sins 
were  following  after  him.     If  my  soul  has  not  been 


26o  Mills  Meetings 

right  all  my  life,  the  evil  of  the  past  will  crush  down 
in  after  life  to  taunt  me.  Unless  we  are  letting  the  full 
blaze  of  God's  light  pour  into  our  hearts  and  inform  us, 
we  are  guilty  of  sins  of  ignorance. 

There  are  concealed  sins.  Would  you  like  to  have 
your  dear  friends  see  all  your  sins  in  the  bottom  of 
your  heart?  God  sees  them.  One  day  the  curtain  will  be 
torn  away,  and  they  be  shown  to  all.  In  the  day  of 
reckoning  they  will  see  the  soul  as  yours ;  in  the  last 
world,  where  everybody  sees  the  selfishness,  and  the 
pride,  and  the  evil,  and  the  meanness  of  everybody 
around  them.  I  hear  some  saying,  "I  could  not  bear 
to  live  in  such  a  world  as  that."  If  all  of  you  should 
suddenly  be  given  the  power  of  seeing  these  sins  here 
to-night,  this  hall  would  be  emptied  quicker  than  it  was 
filled.  There  is  nothing  hidden  now,  however,  to  the 
eyes  of  God.  He  sees  all  of  these  secret  sins  in  all  of 
you.  What  a  wonderful  knowledge  in  this  text — in 
this  Psalm. 

Then,  in  the  third  place,  there  are  sins  of  omission 
— things  that  we  have  not  done.  I  remember  an  old 
deacon  who  failed  to  come  to  our  service  one  night. 
He  told  us  next  night  how  he  had  tossed  on  his  bed  all 
night.  He  said  he  had  a  sense  of  sin,  and  he  searched 
his  heart,  which  had  so  grievously  offended  God.  He 
was  troubled  because  he  could  not  think  of  what  he 
had  done,  and  he  concluded  that  it  was  for  the  things  he 
had  not  done.  That  was  just  it.  When  you  come  up 
before  the  throne  of  God,  He  will  ask  you,  "Were 
you  a  professed  Christian  ?  "  You  will  say,  "No."  He 
will  ask  you,  "  Did  you  do  your  duty  voting  and  work- 
ing with  a  Christian  sense  of  right?"  You  will  say, 
"No,  I  belong  to  a  party."     You  will  have  to  answer 


Memorial  Volume.  261 

"No,"  and  He  will  say,  "  Ye  did  it  not. "  Tiiat  is  to 
be  test  and  judgment  on  Judgment  Day. 

Then  there  are  sins  of  the  heart  which  foster  the 
sins  which  have  not  yet  brought  their  deadly  fruit. 
The  Jews  had  come  almost  to  the  sight  of  the  promised 
land,  when  they  had  to  go  back  to  die  in  the  wilder- 
ness- A  man  is  not  to  blame  for  wicked  thoughts. 
He  is  at  fault  when  he  cherishes  them  and  allows  them 
to  grow.  Pride,  vanity,  dissatisfaction,  impatience,  are 
evils  that  should  be  stricken  out  of  the  soul.  These 
are  awful  thoughts  that  God  reaches  down  into  our 
hearts  and  puts  them  down  against  us  in  the  light  of 
his  countenance.  The  thing  that  we  have  to  do  first 
is  not  to  be  convinced  that  we  can  be  saved,  but  that 
we  will  save  ourselves  by  saying,  "I  will  confess." 
If  your  impurities  stay  in  your  soul  it  will  curse  you 
forever.  Here  is  the  majestic  eagle.  I  have  stood  and 
watched  him  towering  above  me,  looking  down  upon 
the  earth. 

Then  he  trembles,  weakens,  and  begins  to  fall,  and 
is  crushed  at  my  feet.  You  wonder  what  killed  him. 
You  spread  his  wings,  and  under  the  wing  you  find  the 
serpent  that  killed  him.  If  you  don't  cleanse  yourself 
of  that  secret  sin,  no  matter  how  strong  you  are,  that 
sin  will  sting  you  and  kill  you.  We  are  sensitive  about 
our  appearance.  We  are  always  dressing  up  to  cover 
up  the  deformities,  and  we  are  saying  how  handsome 
we  are.  If  a  minister,  while  preaching,  should  find 
that  his  cravat  had  crawled  up  back  of  his  ear,  he 
would  be  very  much  annoyed.  His  vanity  would  be 
aroused.  One  of  his  secret  sins  would  be  made  promi- 
nent. My  friend,  if  God  touches  a  sin  to-night,  you 
had  better  give  it  up. 


262  Mills  Meetings 

I  want  to  lay  bare  my  soul  before  God.  I  can  not 
find  any  salvation  unless  I  lay  bare  my  soul  before 
God,  May  He  judge  me,  not  at  my  best,  but  at  my 
worst.  Blessed  be  God.  He  accounted  for  my  secret 
sins  when  He  made  the  atonement.  May  He  get  down 
to  the  depth  of  our  souls  to-night,  and  cleanse  our  souls 
to-night.  Are  you  willing  to  say  to  God,  "  Wash 
me,  wash  me  until  my  soul  is  as  white  as  snow  ?"  You 
can  have  your  soul  made  as  white  as  snow  by  accept- 
ing the  atonement  of  the  precious  blood  of  Jesus 
Christ. 


On  Friday  evening  the  Music  Hall  was  filled  to  its 
utmost  seating  capacity.  The  attendance  steadily  in- 
creased after  the  second  night,  and  those  who  were  not 
present  at  the  opening  of  the  doors  had  but  little  op- 
portunity to  obtain  seats.  After  a  service  of  song  by 
the  great  chorus,  led  by  Mr.  Lawrence  B.  Greenwood, 
Mr.  Mills  spoke  from  his  text,  Luke  xiv.  20:  "There 
fore  I  can  not  come."  The  following  is  a  brief  outline 
of  the  sermon : 

One  of  the  main  excuses  we  hear  from  men  to-day 
is  that  they  do  not  know  God.  A  German  agnostic 
once  said  to  a  minister,  that  if  God  would  show  him  His 
will  he  would  do  it. 

The  minister  invited  him  to  pray  and  the  professor 
said :  "  I  do  not  know  whether  there  is  a  God  or  not ; 
but  if  there  is  a  God,  and  if  He  will  reveal  to  me  what 
He  wishes  me  to  do,  I  will  do  it."  When  he  arose  he 
said:  "I  see  it  all;  I  will  do  it;  "  and  he  became  a 
Christian  then  and  there. 

Another  man  excuses  himself  because  he  can  not 
understand  all  that  is  in  the  Bible.     When  a  man  un- 


Memorial  Volume.  263 

derstands  all  things  else,  then  it  is  time  to  say  that  this 
is  a  reason  for  not  accepting  the  invitation  of  God's 
book. 

Another  excuse  is  that  of  the  man  who  says  that  he 
can  not  come  because  the  church  is  full  of  hypocrites. 
Men  do  not  try  to  counterfeit  bad  things,  therefore  this 
is  an  argument  for  the  church. 

Then  there  are  men  who  say  they  can  not  hold  out. 
Nobody  can  be  half-hearted  and  succeed  in  anything,  or 
whole-hearted  and  fail. 

Men  say  that  they  can  not  feel  as  Christians  feel. 
They  must  get  up  and  begin,  and  they  will  feel  the 
glow. 

Finally,  the  excuse  of  lack  of  time  is  urged.  Every 
man  will  have  to  take  time  to  die.  Will  he  care  to 
present  this  excuse  on  the  judgment  day? 

This  was  followed  by  an  unusually  large  after- 
meeting. 

A   TYPICAL    AFTER-MEETING. 

The  spectrum  of  a  sunbeam  is  still  a  sunbeam,  but 
its  analysis  has  given  it  a  character  distinct  from  other 
sunbeams.  Any  description  of  the  great  after-meet- 
ings would  fail  to  convey  the  element  present  in  great 
power — the  sense  of  solemnity.  Then,  again,  it  would 
be  impossible  to  picture  the  wonderful  magnetism 
poured  upon  those  assembled  by  the  evangelist,  Rev. 
B.  Fay  Mills.  At  best  the  description  would  be  but  a 
voiceless  corpse. 

Not  the  least  remarkable  feature  of  these  meetings 
was  the  manner  of  shifting  the  congregation.  At  the 
conclusion  of  the  sermon,  Mr.  Mills,  with  a  few  words 
of  exhortation  or  explanation,  would  endeavor  to  induce 


264  Mills  Meetings 

those  present  to  decide  for  Christ  by  rising  for  a 
moment.  To  his  invitation  there  was  usually  a  response 
varying  in  numbers  from  ten  to  one  hundred. 

Then  the  ushers  were  directed  to  pass  along  the 
lines  the  cards  bearing  the  inscription: 


/  desire  henceforth  to  lead  a  Christian  life. 

Name 

Address 

Pastor  or  Church  preferred 


When  these  were  returned  to  the  ushers,  Mr.  Mills 
invited  those  who  desired  to  remain  to  an  after  service. 

In  a  few  moments  the  entire  congregation  was  shifted, 
without  effort,  jostling  or  confusion,  and  as  if  by  magic 
the  evangelist  had  before  him  an  attentive,  earnest 
group,  varying  from  fifteen  hundred  to  four  thousand. 

Just  how  it  was  done  the  outside  observer  could 
not  tell,  but  those  familiar  with  the  methods  would 
place  a  large  portion  of  the  credit  to  the  account  of  the 
splendid  body  of  consecrated  men  who  served  as  ushers. 
As  soon  as  the  congregation  was  before  him,  Mr.  Mills 
took  possession  of  it,  bringing  it  into  perfect  harmony 
with  the  work  to  be  done. 

With  a  few  words  of  prayer,  or  a  simple  text,  or  a 
few  brief  remarks  upon  the  sermon,  or  the  need  of  sal- 
vation, he  opened  wide  the  door  of  opportunit3^ 

At  no  time  did  he  use  any  set  formula  or  resort  to 
any  tricks  to  induce  those  present  to  make  the  effort 
for  salvation,  but  no  means  were  spared  to  bring  home 
to  the  soul  of  those  present  the  conviction  of  sin  and 
the  need  of  a  Saviour,  and  no  person  left  his  presence 
without  the  consciousness  that  they  had  been  person- 
ally and  individually  asked  to  come  to  Christ. 

He  first  treated  the  congregation  as  an  entirety. 


C.  A.   SANDERS. 

Chairman    >rusic   Commiltee. 


COL.  J.  A.  JOHNSON. 

Music  Committee. — Cnvini^ton. 


L-^! 


W.  ]!.  C.\RPENTER. 

I'i nance  Committee. — Covinijlon. 


FRANK    M.  JOYCE. 

Member   of   Mtisic   Committee 


Memorial  Volume.  265 

"Are  there  any  who  desire  to  rise,  and  by  rising  say 
that  they  wish  to  lead  a  Christian  Hfe?" 

"Will  you  encourage  the  slightest  desire  to  be 
brought  home  to  God?"  "Are  you  willing  that  we 
should  pray  for   you?"      "Who    will  come   in  now?" 

A  hundred  forms  of  invitation  were  used,  which 
would  be  but  skeletons  when  shorn  of  the  earnest  voice 
and  winning  smile  of  the  man  whose  every  impulse  for 
weeks  has  been  to  bring  the  wandering  ones  to  the  feet 
of  the  Master. 

"  God  bless  you,  brother;  that 's  right." 

"One,  two — God  bless  that  young  man  ;  "  there  are 
two  more,  seven,  eight — I  can't  count  them  all."  "God 
bless  you,  little  one."  "  Children  are  near  to  God." 
"That's  right;  you  can  come  too."  To  an  old  man  of 
seventy. 

These  sentences,  taken  from  verbatim  reports, 
will  bring  back  the  tender  pathos  to  those  who  heard 
them,  but  could  not  be  made  to  represent  the  earnest- 
ness of  the  evangelist  or  the  rapid  variation  of  voice 
and  manner. 

After  the  congregation  had  ceased  to  respond  to  his 
appeals,  as  a  whole,  he  divided  them  with  his  out- 
stretched arms  into  groups. 

"Will  not  some  one  here  in  this  section  come?" 

"Come,  brother,  now  is  the  accepted  time." 

"Thank  God,  sister." 

"That's  right,  God  bless  you." 

And  so  dividing  the  congregation  that  each  individ- 
ual felt  that  the  appeal  had  been  made  to  him  or  her 
directly  and  personally. 

At  intervals  he  interjected  short  encouraging  quota- 
tions  from   the  word   of  God,  or  a  verse  of  song,  and 


266   •  Mills  Meetings 

many  times  Mr.  Lawrence  Greenwood,  his  efficient 
helper  in  song  service,  added  to  the  impressions  by 
singing  as  solos,  the  Gospel  Songs,  now  so  familiar  to 
all— "Where  Will  You  Spend  Eternity  ?"  "Almost 
Persuaded,"  "Jesus  of  Nazareth  Passeth  By,"  in  which 
the  congregation  joined  at  times  with  great  fervor. 

Then  when  he  became  satisfied  that  all  had  risen 
who  desired,  the  cards  were  passed  by  the  ushers. 

Only  He,  whose  Lamb's  Book  of  Life  can  never  be 
seen  by  human  eyes,  can  tell  the  good  done  by  the  con- 
secrated band  of  men  who  served  so  faithfully  those 
weeks  filled  with  work  for  the  Master. 

They  let  no  opportunity  pass  to  impress  upon  the 
wavering  ones  the  necessity  of  decision,  and  many 
were  garnered  into  the  full  sheaves  that  were  prayer- 
fully laid  at  the  Master's  feet  after  each  service,  by 
these  earnest  Christian  men. 

Pages  might  be  written  and  justice  not  be  done  the 
wonderful  spirit  of  prayer  that  pervaded  these  meetings. 

The  door  of  opportunity  was  thrown  wide  open, 
and  every  encouragement  given  those  who  desired  to 
come. 

"Don't  stop  to  unravel  a  creed;  come  to  God 
now,  and  He  will  give  you  light  after  awhile." 

' '  You  have  only  this  to  consider :  you  are  lost  with- 
out Christ,  and  that  He  is  calling  now,  now,  now,  call- 
ing you — you,  my  brother,  my  sister.  That's  right; 
God  bless  you,  brother." 

"Don't  wait,  but  come." 

• '  The  light  is  feeble  now,  but  it  will  grow  brighter 
by  and  by." 

"It  is  there,  just  a  little  spark;  fan  it — fan  it  into 
life." 


0   %!K 


J.  1).  iii':arni':. 

Ushers'  Cdinmittec  — Ciningtoii. 


THOMAS  GIHSUX. 

Member  of  Finance   Committee. 


ROBHRT  T.  :NU)KR1S. 
Menilier  of   Finan'-e   Committee. 


JOHN  WEBB,  JK. 

Memljer   of   Advertising    C'ommitlee. 


Memorial  Volume.  267 

"Start  from  to-night,  brother." 

And  then  He  would  often  turn  his  words  towards 
those  who  were  unfaithful. 

"  Come  back,  come  back ;  you  have  forgotten  God." 

"God  loves  you,  He  wants  you." 

"God  help  you  to  say,  I  am  sorry." 

Thousands  responded  to  these  invitations,  and 
stepped  over  the  line. 

Then  with  a  face  smiling,  even  when  most  eloquent, 
he  commended  to  the  care  of  God  the  tender  children 
of  the  faith ;  and  when  the  benediction  fell  upon  the 
hearts  of  all,  it  brought  alike  to  sinner  and  saved  a 
deep  conviction  of  his  earnest  desire  to  lead  men  into 
the  broad  light  that  falls  in  splendor  from  the  Master's 
face. 


THE  FIRST  SUNDAY  IN  MUSIC  HALL. 

The  first  Sunday  in  Music  Hall  was  devoted  to 
special  services — to  young  people  in  the  afternoon, 
and  to  men  in  the  evening — and  both  services  filled  the 
hall. 

In  the  morning  Mr.  Mills  conducted  a  service  at 
the  Union  Bethel,  and  spoke  to  a  congregation  drawn 
from  the  poorer  classes  of  the  city.  Mr.  Greenwood 
led  in  a  preliminary  song  service,  which  included  the 
following  songs:  "Sing  them  O'er  Again  to  Me," 
"Lord  I  Care  Not  for  Riches,"  "I  am  Coming  to  the 
Cross,"  "It  is  Well  with  my  soul."  He  sang  with  an 
earnestness  in  which  the  large  congregation  joined. 
H.  Thane  Miller  offered  prayer,  closing  with  "Our 
Father,"  in  which  all  joined. 


268  Mills  Meetings 

Mr.  Mills  read  from  the  i8th  chapter  of  Luke,  the 
story  of  the  blind  Bartimeus.  Rev.  J.  A.  Markham, 
superintendent  of  the  Bethel,  led  in  prayer,  after  which 
Mr.  Mills  preached  an  earnest,  appealing  sermon  from 
the  text,  Luke  xviii.  17:  "Jesus  of  Nazareth  passeth 
by." 

At  the  close  of  the  sermon,  all  those  out  of  Christ 
were  invited  to  come  home,  and  many  were  saved. 
One  hundred  and  sixty  signed  the  cards. 

In  estimating  the  future  strength  of  France,  Napo- 
leon said:  "Count  for  me  the  young  men  and  the 
young  women,  and  I  will  measure  for  you  the  future 
glory  of  the  nation. "  Could  he  have  looked  upon  the 
congregation  that  filled  the  hall  platform,  and  aisles  of 
Music  Hall  Sunday  afternoon,  February  28th,  he  no 
doubt  would  have  concluded  that  this  city  was  to  be  a 
power  for  Jesus  Christ  in  coming  days. 

The  youth  of  the  city  were  there  to  hear  the  last 
sermon  exclusively  to  young  people  by  the  evangelist. 
Here  and  there  were  aged  heads,  but  young  faces  lit 
and  shone  with  the  fervor  caught  from  the  earnest  man 
who  spoke,  and  eyes  sparkling  with  the  spirit  of  youth 
and  strength  responded  to  the  pathos  of  the  beautiful 
story  so  tenderly  told. 

The  song  service  was  unusually  spirited,  the  clear, 
fresh  voices  rising  to  meet  the  chorused  eloquence  of 
the  great  choir,  and  the  Gospel  songs  were  in  them- 
selves an  ample  proof  that  it  is  good  to  serve  God. 

There  was  joy  and  happiness,  peace  and  pathos  in 
the  volume  of  song  that  filled  the  hall.  Bishop  J.  M. 
Walden  led  in  prayer,  and  when  Rev.  B.  Fay  Mills  an- 
nounced his  text,  "Jesus  of  Nazareth  passeth  by," 
(Luke  xviii.  37),  he  spoke  to  seventy-five  hundred  young 


Memorial  Volume.  26g 

men  and  young  women,  who  listened  to  him  with  eager 
interest  to  the  end. 

His  sermon  was  tenderly  impressive,  as  he  told  the 
story  of  the  blind  man,  and  his  need  and  his  noble  face 
lit  with  the  fire  of  conviction  as  he  drew  the  parallel 
between  the  blind  beggar  and  the  sinner  in  dark- 
ness. Hundreds  of  young  men  and  women  responded 
to  his  request  to  come  out  from  the  blindness  of  un- 
belief 

In  the  evening,  at  Music  Hall,  the  entire  congrega- 
tion was  changed.  If  the  audience  of  the  afternoon 
represented  the  future,  the  seven  thousand  men  were, 
typical  of  the  living  present.  The  bright  girl  faces,  the 
young  men  with  countenances  filled  with  expectancy, 
gave  place  to  men  with  gray  hair  and  trembling  limbs ; 
to  men  with  brawny  muscles,  the  strength  and  power  of 
this  fair  city. 

Some  agnostic  forged  the  lie  that  Christianity  does 
not  produce  cultured  followers,  but  that  lie  was  amply 
refuted  by  the  thousands  of  men  who  bore  upon  their 
faces  the  lines  of  culture  and  refinement.  Even  those 
whom  sin  had  marked,  to  whom  had  been  bequeathed 
the  legacy  of  brutality,  lost  the  hard  lines  as  they  soft- 
ened to  the  melody  of  the  Gospel  songs,  and  when  Mr. 
Mills  spoke  of  the  need  of  the  millions  in  far  off  Russia, 
they  responded  as  freely  and  as  fully  as  their  means 
allowed.* 

The  great  congregation  joined  heartily  in  the  sing- 
ing, and  at  no  meeting  was  there  such  close  attention. 
It  was  at  this  meeting  that  Mr.  Mills  spoke  of  the  com- 
plete absence  of  excitement,  which  has  been  referred  to 
in  the  chapters  on  "  Methods,"  etc. 

*  See  chapter  on  "  Incidents." 


270  Mills  Meetings 

After  a  short  prayer,  Mr.  Mills  announced  his  text, 
Lamentations  i.  12  :     "Is  it  nothing  to  you ?" 

A  very  large  proportion  remained  to  the  after-serv- 
ice, and  several  hundred  rose  for  prayers,  and  many 
more  signed  cards. 


AFTERNOON  SERVICES  AT  MUSIC    HALL. 

On  Monday,  February  28th,  the  services  which  had 
been  held  in  the  afternoon  at  the  Ninth  Street  Baptist 
Church  were  transferred  to  Music  Hall. 

Many  had  said  that  afternoon  ^services  at  Music 
Hall  would  not  be  sufficiently  well  attended  to  justify 
holding  them,  but  again  the  judgment  of  Mr.  Mills 
proved  best.  The  services  were  held  five  days,  and  at 
each  service  a  congregation  largely  in  excess  of  the 
seating  capacity  of  any  church  in  this  city  was  present. 
The  sermons  were  of  a  special  character.  On  Monday 
afternoon  Mr.  Mills  took  "  Motherhood "  as  his  sub- 
ject. At  the  request  of  many  we  give  a  stenographic 
report  in  full  of  this  sermon. 


MOTHERHOOD. 

A  Sermon  by  Rev.  B.  Fay  Mills. 

Text  :  "  Her  children  arise  up,  and  call  her  blessed." 
— Prov.  xxxi.  28. 

' '  The  price  of  a  virtuous  woman  is  far  above  ru- 
bies ;  the  heart  of  her  husband  doth  safely  trust  in  her ; 
she  will  do  him  good,  and  not  evil,  all  the  days  of  her 
life;  her  husband  is  known  in  the  gates,  when  he 
sitteth  among  the  elders  of  the   land.     Strength  and 


Memorial  Volume.  271 

honor  are  her  clothing,  and  she  shall  rejoice  in  time  to 
come ;  she  openeth  her  mouth  with  wisdom,  and  in  her 
tongue  is  the  law  of  kindness ;  she  looketh  well  to  the 
ways  of  her  household,  and  eateth  not  the  bread  of 
idleness ;  her  children  arise  up,  and  call  her  blessed  ; 
her  husband  also,  and  he  praiseth  her." 

"The  hand  that  rocks  the  cradle  rules  the  world." 
When  Napoleon  was  asked  what  he  thought  was  the 
great  need  of  France,  he  said,  "Mothers;"  and  the 
great  need  of  every  nation  and  of  the  world  is  mothers. 
God  has  never  given  to  a  man  the  quality  of  influence 
that  he  has  bestowed  upon  every  mother.  It  is  not 
only  that  the  one  who  has  most  to  sacrifice  is  the  one 
who  has  the  most  love ;  but  it  is  that  God  has  given  to 
woman  the  possibilities  of  loving  in  her  relationship 
to  her  offspring  that  he  has  never  bestowed  upon 
man. 

I  remember  a  man  who  was  an  utterly  godless  man, 
who  had  thrown  away  opportunities  that  angels  might 
almost  have  coveted.  He  had  lived  such  a  life  of  dissi- 
pation and  reckless  abandonment  to  the  grosser  forms 
of  evil  that  his  wife  had  been  forced  to  leave  him,  and 
had  been  divorced  from  him.  He  had,  I  think,  five 
children,  and  he  had  not  seen  them  in  years.  He  had 
gone  out  into  the  western  mountains,  and  there  had 
engaged  in  mining  until  he  had  become  a  man  of  a  cer- 
tain sort  of  influence,  and  was  reputed  to  be  the  pos- 
sessor of  great  wealth. 

I  was  traveling  upon  a  railway  train  one  day,  and, 
sitting  with  him,  I  asked  God  if  I  might  not  find  some 
way  by  which  that  man's  heart  might  be  reached.  I 
had  heard  something  about  his  family,  although  I  had 
no   definite  information  concerning  them,  and  I  asked 


2/2  Mills  Meetings 

him  if  he  was  not  a  married  man,  and  he  said  yes,  he 
had  been  married. 

"Well, "said  I,  "have  you  any  children?"  He 
said,  "Yes,  I  have  five  children."  J  said,  "I  never 
saw  your  wife  nor  your  children."  "Well,"  he  said, 
"  I  haven't  seen  them  either  for  a  long  time;"  and  he 
said,  "I  never  expect  to  see  them  again;"  and  then 
after  a  moment  he  said,  "Do  you  think  a  wife  can 
really  love  a  husband  ?  "  and  I  said,  "Certainly,  lam 
sure  of  it."  He  said,  "I  don't  believe  it.  She  may 
have  some  sort  of  regard  for  him,  and  it  may  be  a 
selfish  sort  of  feeling  after  all  for  her  own  comfort  and 
satisfaction ;  but  I  do  n't  believe  a  wife  can  love  her 
husband  in  the  highest  sense  of  the  word." 

Then  he  hesitated  a  moment,  and  he  put  his  hands 
into  his  pocket  and  brought  out  a  case,  and  out  of  the 
case  he  took  an  old-fashioned  picture  of  an  old-fash- 
ioned woman,  and  he  looked  at  it  very  tenderly,  as 
though  he  could  n't  bear  to  let  it  leave  his  hands  long 
enough  for  me  to  look  at  it,  and  then  he  handed  it 
over  to  me  and  said,  "It  is  the  loveliest  face  in  the 
world;  that  is  my  mother."  He  said,  "It  takes  a 
mother  to  love ;  my  wife  made  up  her  mind  that  she 
had  been  deceived  in  me.  I  wasn't  the  man  she 
thought  I  was  when  she  married  me.  She  took  my 
children  and  left  me.  My  mother  hasn't  made  up  her 
mind  she  has  been  deceived  in  me.  If  there  was  any 
sacrifice  I  could  call  upon  her  to  make,  she  would  do 
it  willingly,  because  it  is  I.  Suppose  you  commit 
murder ;  do  you  think  your  wife  is  going  to  stand  by 
you  with  pride  on  the  scaffold  ?  She  would  make  up 
her  mind  pretty  quickly  that  she  had  made  a  mistake 
when  she  married  you,  and  she  would  n't  have  the  least 


Memorial  Volume.  273 

particle  of  desire  to  be  identified  with  you  after  that ; 
but  do  you  know  that  I  might  be  the  worst  cutthroat 
in  the  world,  and  at  last  I  might  be  brought  to  the 
scaffold  for  my  crime,  and  that  old  lady  would  go  into 
the  cell  with  me  if  she  could,  and  she  would  come  all 
along  the  way  that  led  to  the  scaffold,  and  she  would 
get  on  the  scaffold  with  me  and  put  her  arms  around 
me  and  say,   '  This  is  my  son;  this  is  my  son.'  " 

It  does  seem  to  me  that  God  has  given  unto  no 
man  the  possibilities  of  loving  which  he  has  given  unto 
woman.  I  think  a  man  might  stand,  day  after  day, 
before  a  congregation  of  tens  of  thousands  of  people, 
and  proclaim  the  very  gospel  of  God,  and  never  approach 
to  a  tithe  the  influence  and  power  that  God  has  given 
into  the  heart  and  into  the  hands  of  the  mother,  whose 
heart  is  filled  with  the  love  for  her  children  that  God 
should  bestow  upon  her. 

Some  years  ago  there  was  a  young  man  in  an  east- 
ern city  who  was  living  an  utterly  abandoned  and 
desolute  life,  who  was  the  child  of  Christian  parents. 
A  large  portion  of  this  congregation  would  recognize 
the  name  of  the  father  in  a  moment,  if  I  should  men- 
tion it.  The  father  had  been  a  just  father  with  the  son, 
and  the  mother  had  seemed  to  be  all  that  a  mother  could 
be,  and  yet  by  one  of  those  strange  freaks  that  we  some- 
times see,  rarely,  indeed,  but  still  occasionally,  this  son 
grew  up  to  be  one  of  the  most  utterly  depraved  and 
vicious  men  that  there  was  in  that  great  city.  The  father 
came  to  the  place  where  he  determined  that  he  could 
do  no  more  for  his  son,  and  he  desired  to  command 
him  never  to  come  into  his  house  again;  but  the 
mother  pleaded  for  him,  and  she  oblained  permission 
to  have  a  room  set  apart  for  him  where  he  could  come 


2/4  Mills  Meetings 

at  the  time  he  was  recovering  from  a  debauch,  and 
be  in  his  father's  house ;  and  the  mother  said  he 
need  never  look  upon  his  father's  face ;  she  would 
minister  to  him  entirely,  and  she  obtained  permission 
to  have  such  a  place  reserved  for  her  son. 

There  was  one  occasion  when  this  man  was  recover- 
ing from  a  time  of  terrible  dissipation,  and  the  mother 
was  caring  for  him — the  only  one  who  had  access  to 
him — and  Mr.  John  B.  Gough  was  visiting  in  that 
home,  and  the  mother  said  to  him : 

"I  wish  you  would  go  to  my  son  Edward; 
our  son  has  come  home  in  a  very  sad  condition,  and 
has  been  shut  up  for  two  or  three  days  alone  in  his 
room,  and  I  wish  you  would  go  to  him  and  see  if  you 
can  not  say  some  v/ord  to  him  that  will  appeal  to  him." 

Mr.  Gough  said  that  he  thought  if  the  mother's  in- 
fluence would  not  appeal  to  him,  it  could  not  be  that 
he  could  say  anything  that  would.  Finally  he  con- 
sented, and  went  upstairs  into  the  room  where  this 
poor,  miserable,  degraded  fellow-man  was,  and  he  said 
to  him,  "Edvvard,  do  you  not  sometimes  regret  terri- 
bly the  life  you  are  leading  ?"  And  he  said,  "Indeed  I 
do,  Mr.  Gough."  He  said,  "Edward,  why  do  you 
not  abandon  it?"  He  said,  "I  can't;  I  am  bound 
hand  and  foot,  and  I  will  have  to  go  on  in  this  way  un 
til  I  die."  And  Mr.  Gough  said  to  him,  "  Edward,  do 
you  ever  pray  ?"  "  No,"  he  said,  "  I  don't  believe  in 
God,  Mr.  Gough;  1  do  not  believe  in  anything. "  "  Ed- 
ward," he  said,  "do  you  believe  in  your  mother?" 
and  oh !  what  a  look  came  over  that  face  as  he  said, 
"Mr.  Gough,  that  is  the  only  thing  in  this  world  that 
I  do  believe  in — my  mother!"  "Edward,"  said  Mr. 
Gough,  "  do  you  think  your  mother  loves  you  ?"  And 


Memorial  Volume.  275 

he  said,  "  I  am  sure  of  it. "  Then  he  said,  "  You  be- 
Heve  in  love,  do  n't  you  ?  You  beHeve  there  is  at  least  one 
<jood  thing  in  this  world,  and  that  is  love,  because  your 
mother  loves  you?"  "Well,  yes,  I  suppose  I  do  be- 
lieve in  love."  And  Mr.  Gough  said,  "  Edward,  when  I 
have  gone  out  will  you  promise  me  that  you  will  kneel 
down  and  offer  a  prayer  to  Love,  and  just  ask  Love  to 
help  you  ?"  And  after  some  hesitation  he  said  he  would  ; 
and  when  Mr.  Gough  had  gone,  he  knelt  down,  as  he 
afterwards  expressed  it,  "feeling  like  a  fool,"  and  he 
said,  "O  Love!"  and  then  from  the  cleft  heavens 
there  came  to  him  a  voice  that  said,  "  God  is  Love," 
and  he  said,  "O  God!"  and  there  came  another  voice 
that  said,  ' '  God  so  loved  the  world  that  he  gave  his 
only  begotten  Son  that  whosoever  believeth  in  him 
should  not  perish,  but  have  everlasting  life,"  and  the 
man  cried  out,  "  O  Christ !"  and  the  work  was  done! 
He  went  down  stairs  a  saved  man.  He  came  into  the 
kitchen  where  his  mother  was  with  her  own  hands  pre- 
paring some  food  for  him,  and  he  stretched  out  his 
arms  toward  her  and  said,  "  O  Love,  O  Love!"  and 
she  said,  "Why,  Edward,  what  do  you  mean?"  and 
then  he  told  her  all  that  had  happened. 

0  women,  mothers  !  God  has  never  given  to  any 
earthly  creature  the  possibility  of  such  love  and  such 
sweet,  far-reaching  influence  as  he  has  given  unto  you  ! 
And  if  a  mother  that  is  willing  to  be  filled  with  the 
very  spirit  of  Christ  can  not  reproduce  God  in'the  heart 
of  her  child,  I  believe  that  the  child  must  be  utterly 
hopeless, 

1  desire  to  suggest  to  you  some  conditions  which, 
if  they  be  fulfilled,  will  cause  your  children  to  rise  up 
and  call  you  blessed,   and  the  first  is  this  :  that  you 


2^6  Mills  Meetings 

should  have  a  high  ambition  for  your  children.  When 
a  mother  looks  upon  the  face  of  a  new-born  child  and 
sees  in  that  child  only  human  possibilities,  I  believe 
that  the  mother  is  a  curse,  and  that  the  child  may  be- 
come a  curse  unto  this  world.  Until  a  woman  has  said, 
as  did  that  one  of  whom  we  read  this  afternoon,  "  I  do 
utterly  take  off  my  hands  from  my  child  ;  I  have  lent 
him  to  the  Lord  ;  as  long  as  he  liveth  he  shall  be  lent  to 
the  Lord,"  the  woman  is  something  less  than  a  woman 
ought  to  be,  and  she  will  have  only  the  reaping  of  that 
which  she  has  sown  if  there  come  to  her  pain,  anguish 
and  a  breaking  heart  from  the  child  that  has  been 
unconsecrated  by  the  mother. 

There  was  a  noble  Roman  matron  who  was  called 
"the  daughter  of  Scipio,"  the  mightiest  man  of  his 
time  ;  and  there  came  a  time  when  she  was  married  to 
another  distinguished  Roman,  and  still  she  was  called 
"the  daughter  of  Scipio;"  and  there  came  a  time 
when  she  looked  down  into  the  cradle,  and  there  were 
two  little  sons,  called  oftentimes  "  Cornelia's  jewels," 
and  she  said,  "Call  me  no  more  the  daughter  of  Scipio  ; 
call  me  the  mother  of  the  Gracchi."  The  woman  so 
far  had  faith  in  what  her  children  were  going  to  be  by 
that  which  she  might  be  unto  them,  that  she  would 
rather  her  name  should  come  down  to  posterity  as  the 
mother  of  her  children  than  as  the  daughter  of  her 
noble  lather. 

Oh,  that  the  mothers  might  recognize  the  pro- 
prietorship of  Almighty  God  in  their  children  !  that 
they  might  see  in  them  those  that  are  born  to  be  the 
saviors  of  the  world,  and  say,  "Blessed  am  I  among 
women  !  God  has  given  me  a  child  that  may  also  be 
his  child."  Any  ambition  less  than  this  is  an  indication 


Memorial  Volume.  277 

of  the  curse  that  has  come  to  the  world  in  the  birth  of 
the  child. 

Some  ministers  in  a  conference  a  short  time  ago  were 
telling  the  circumstances  under  which  they  were  led  to 
Christ.  There  were  one  hundred  and  twenty  of  them, 
and  out  of  these  one  hundred  and  twenty  men  of  God 
there  were  one  hundred  that  said  that  they  had  been 
consecrated  unto  God  from  the  cradle,  and  they  had 
been  led  to  Christ  and  led  into  the  ministry  through 
the  influence  of  their  mothers'  knowledge  of  God,  and 
of  the  mothers'  consecration  and  Christian  training ;  and 
yet  do  you  know  that  I  have  even  seen  mothers 
who  seemed  to  have  an  ambition  that  their  children 
might  be  beautiful,  that  they  might  shine  in  society, 
that  they  might  have  great  wealth,  that  they  might 
stand  among  the  powerful  of  this  world,  who  were  not 
even  willing  that  they  should  be  consecrated  unto 
God? 

Many  a  time  have  young  men  and  women  come  to 
me  and  said :  ' '  Can  you  not  say  something  in  a  sermon 
that  will  make  parents  willing  for  their  children  to  be 
missionaries?"  Kept  back  by  the  influence  of  a 
mother  from  the  very  highest  form  of  service  to  which 
God  ever  calls  any  of  his  creatures !  If  it  be  so  that 
some  of  you  be  mothers,  and  have  looked  upon  the 
face  of  a  child  and  not  seen  the  possibilities  of  God 
himself,  and  of  one  who  shall  be  one  of  the  world's 
saviors,  may  God  give  you  a  better  heart  and  a  better 
mind  to-day,  that  may  it  "be  well  with  you,  and  well 
with  the  child." 

Another  thought  is,  children  have  the  right  to  ex- 
pect from  the  mother  a  godly  example — I  might  say 
from  the  parents  a  godly  example. 


2/8  Mills  Meetings 

I  know  of  another  occasion  where  some  people  were 
telling  how  it  was  they  commenced  a  Christian  life,  and 
one  said  he  came  through  the  preaching  of  such  a  min- 
ister ;  another,  that  he  was  converted  by  another  such 
minister;  and  one  man  said:  "  I  think  I  was  converted 
under  my  aunt's  practicing."  Many  children  have  been 
converted  under  the  mother's  practicing.  One  of  the 
most  godly  and  conscientious  servants  of  Christ  of  the 
past  generation  was  a  man  who  had  attained  consider- 
able prominence  among  men  of  unbelief;  but  when 
there  came  a  great  trouble  to  his  mother,  and  he  came 
home,  wondering  how  he  should  comfort  her,  and  he 
found  that  his  mother  was  not  cast  down,  but  her  face 
was  shining  in  the  midst  of  the  darkness  round  about 
her,  and  she  was  cheerful,  and  beautiful,  and  patient ; 
and  he,  a  strong  man,  utterly  overwhelmed  !  This  man 
was  Richard  Cecil,  and  this  made  him  a  Christian,  and 
he  became  one  of  the  most  powerful  and  godly  minis- 
ters of  Christ  of  his  day. 

You  remember  the  old  fable — I  believe  it  is  one  of 
^sop's  Fables — about  the  crab  who  was  teaching  her 
daughter  to  walk,  and  the  daughter  said,  "  Mother, 
how  can  I  walk?"  and  the  mother  said,  "Go  forward, 
my  child,  go  forward,"  and  she  said,  "  Mother,  you 
show  me  how  ;"  and  so  the  old  lady  started  out  in  her 
usual  fashion,  which  you  know  is  to  go  backwards,  and 
the  daughter  started  after  her.  I  believe  you  can  ac- 
count for  the  characteristics  that  you  see  in  men  and 
women  to-day  very  largely  through  the  mother's  prac- 
ticing. The  mother  of  Walter  Scott  was  a  woman 
who  was  noted  for  her  devotion  to  literature  and  art. 
The  mother  of  Lord  Byron  was  most  eccentric  but 
an  exceedingly  gifted  woman,   a  woman  of  a  very  vie- 


'  Memorial  Volume.  279 

lent  temper;  and  when  on  one  occasion  Lord  Byron 
was  asked  something  concerning  his  mother,  he  said 
she  was  a  fool.  The  mother  of  Bonaparte  was  a  wo- 
man that  was  noted  for  her  beauty  and  for  her  tre- 
mendous energy.  The  mother  of  Bacon,  the  wisest 
man  of  his  time,  was  a  woman  who  was  noted  for  her 
learning  and  for  her  deep  research.  The  mother  of 
Patrick  Henry,  the  silver-tongued  orator  of  the  Revo- 
lution, was  noted  through  all  the  region  where  she 
lived  for  her  marvelous  conversational  powers.  The 
mother  of  the  Wesleys — she  was  called  * '  the  mother 
of  the  Wesleys;  "  perhaps  no  greater  crov/n  of  honor 
could  ever  be  laid  upon  the  head  of  any  woman. 
Somfe  one  has  well  said  that  an  ounce  of  mother  is 
worth  a  pound  of  clergy. 

I  wonder  if  it  could  be  in  the  Sunday-school  class, 
where  your  little  child  is  sitting,  that  he  might  make 
such  an  answer  as  that  which  was  made  by  a  little  boy 
whose  teacher  was  describing  the  character  of  Jesus 
Christ.  She  did  not  tell  the  little  boys  of  whom  she 
was  speaking,  but  she  went  on  and  described  his  char- 
acter in  all  its  beauty  and  loveliness,  self-denial  and 
cheerfulness ;  and  as  she  spoke  in  words  that  brought 
tears  to  the  eyes  of  the  little  fellows,  at  last  she  said  to 
one  little  boy,  "Do  you  know  who  it  is  of  whom 
I  am  talking?"  and  this  little  fellow  said,  "It  must 
be  my  mother." 

O  sister,  do  you  know  that  your  child  has  a  right  to 
expect  from  you  that  the  very  light  of  God  will  so 
shine  into  your  heart  as  to  make  all  your  being  full  of 
light,  and  that  as  your  little  children  look  upon  you,  it 
shall  be  as  though  they  looked  upon  Christ  in  all  the 
beauty  of  his  character. 


28o  Mills  Meetings 

And  the  third  thing  that  the  child  has  a  right  to 
expect  is  patient,  gentle,  wise,  cheerful,  prayerful, 
persevering  Christian  training.  Now  this  means  a, 
great  deal  of  wisdom,  a  great  deal  of  effort,  a  great  deal 
of  self-denial.  A  man  of  God,  who  was  pastor  of  one 
of  the  largest  and  most  useful  churches  in  the  city  of 
Philadelphia,  has  recently  written  words  about  his 
mother  in  which  he  says  :  "  Mother  was  a  woman  who 
might  have  shined  in  any  place,  and  yet  few  knew  her 
outside  of  her  home."  Her  children  knew  her,  and  her 
children  rise  up  and  called  her  blessed.  I  do  believe 
there  is  no  ministry  so  great  as  this,  that  wise,  cheer- 
ful, patient,  prayerful  Christian  training  that  a  mother 
may  bring  unto  the  child. 

How  early  may  a  child  commence  to  be  a  follower 
of  God  ?  I  believe  that  a  child  has  a  right  to  be  saved 
before  he  is  born.  The  very  first  thing  that  we  read 
that  was  a  conscious  act  on  the  part  of  little  Samuel, 
was  his  saying  to  the  voice  that  spoke  to  him,  "  Here 
am  I,  for  thou  didst  call  me  ;"  and  I  believe  that  'our 
children  have  a  right  to  be  saved  before  they  are  born. 
I  believe  that  such  a  promise  as  that  God  has  given 
unto  us.  Even  if  the  children  do  come  into  this  world 
and  do  not  seem  naturally  to  seek  the  arms  of  the  great 
Father,  how  early  may  they  be  led  to  a  personal  ac- 
ceptance of  Jesus  Christ?  I  am  sure  that  they  may  be 
brought  to  Christ  at  an  earlier  age  than  some  seem  to 
think.  I  do  not  think  that  we  are  ever  in  any  city  but 
that  some  Sunday-school  teacher  or  some  pastor  will 
ask  that  I  emphasize  the  fact  that  children  ought  to  be 
members  of  the  church  if  they  are  followers  of  Christ, 
because  some  parents  are  keeping  their  children  out  of 
the  Church  of  Christ.     They  think  children,  if  they  are 


RI-:^•.  .\,  B.  RIGGS,  D.D. 

I'a^t  <v  I  f  Seventh  Street  Presby  ■  i  ian 
Chinch. 


m^ 


RKV.   LOl^IS   NIPPKRT. 


Pastor   of    OiTiiian    M     K.  Church, 
Wal.iut    Hills. 


RIvV.  S.  McCHESXEY,   D.D. 
Pastor  of  M.  E   Church.  Walnut  Hill 


RI'V.  J.    A.    H.M.I,. 
Pastor  nf  Lutheran  Church.  Walnut    Hills 


Memorial  Volume.  281 

Christians,  are  too  young  to  join  the  church.  I  was 
going  along  the  street  in  a  place  when  I  overtook  a  lady 
who  seemed  to  be  in  great  trouble,  and  as  I  saw  that 
she  recognized  me,  I  walked  up  to  her  and  said,  "  Is 
there  any  way  I  could  help  you?"  She  said,  "I  am 
troubled  about  a  scholar  in  my  class  in  Sunday-school. 
I  do  believe  yesterday  she  gave  her  heart  to  Christ, 
and  she  really  wants  to  be  an  earnest  Christian,  and 
when  she  went  home,  her  mother  laughed  at  her.'' 
Her  mother,  who  was,  I  think,  a  member  of  the 
church,  had  said,  "  You  are  a  good  deal  too  young  to 
think  of  such  things  as  this  now.  You  had  better  not 
give  such  matters  as  this  any  attention  at  this  time  at 
all.  I  don't  want  you  to  go  to  any  more  of  the  meet- 
ings. "  And  she  said,  "  I  believe  that  mother  is  going  to 
keep  that  child  away  from  Christ."  Said  I,  "  How  old 
is  this  little  girl  ?"  She  said,  "She  is  eighteen  years 
old."  It  seems  almost  incredible,  but  it  is  true.  Do 
you  know  that  in  a  very  large  proportion  of  the 
churches  in  this  country  that  are  what  you  may  call 
successful  churches,  filled  with  the  Spirit  of  God  and 
with  the  power  of  God  in  the  saving  of  souls,  that 
probably  more  than  one-half  of  the  membership  have 
joined  the  church  before  reaching  the  age  of  fifteen 
years,  many  of  them  before  they  are  twelve  years  old, 
some  before  they  are  ten,  and  there  have  been  not  a 
few  beautiful  little  Christian  members  of  the  church  six 
years  of  age,  who  lived  as  Christians  during  the  remain- 
der of  their  days.  We  need  to  remember  the  words, 
"Suffer  the  little  children" — I  am  glad  the  Master  put 
in  that  word  "little" — "and  forbid  them  not,  for  of 
such  is  the  kingdom  of  heaven."  You  can  hang  a  boy 
in  New  York  State  when  he  is  eight  years  old,  and  it  is 


282  Mills  Meetings 

an  awful  thing  if  there  be  in  any  of  our  homes  a  child 
even  approaching  that  age  that  is  not  a  faithful,  con- 
secrated follower  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 

A  few  months  ago  I  went  to  my  old  home  on  an 
errand  that  could  never  be  repeated,  and  as  I  went  my 
heart,  which  had  been  troubled  with  sadness,  was  sing- 
ing praise  to  God  because  of  my  mother' s  life.  As  we 
were  carrying  home  the  precious  dust  to  lay  it  away  in 
the  old  cemetery  by  which  we  lived,  I  did  not  want  to 
go  into  the  church  for  any  funeral  sermon,  but  such 
arrangements  had  been  made,  and  we  went  in,  and  I  sat 
down  almost  at  the  very  spot  where  for  so  many  years 
my  mother  had  led  her  children  ;  and  I  was  glad  we 
went.  There  was  the  old  gray-haired  pastor,  who  has 
since  himself  gone  home  to  glory,  who  had  known  my 
mother  and  my  mother's  mother  through  the  years  that 
were  gone,  and  he  said  my  grandmother  used  to  say 
my  mother  was  converted  before  she  was  two  years 
old ;  that  she  thought  there  was  a  time  when  she  was 
about,  I  think,  eighteen  months  old,  when  she  defi- 
nitely apprehended  the  truth  concerning  Christ,  and  laid 
hold  on  him  for  her  personal  salvation.  Now  I  do  not 
know  that  I  should  agree  with  my  grandmother  as  to 
what  took  place  in  my  mother's  heart  at  that  time,  but 
I  do  know  if  my  mother  was  ever  saved,  she  was  saved 
then,  I  know  that  she  was  saved  then.  She  never 
was  converted  after  that,  and  she  lived  to  be  a  woman 
of  God,  a  woman  who  in  early  years  of  her  married  life 
was  a  missionary  to  the  heathen  and  the  wife  of  a  min- 
ister of  Christ ;  was  also  the  mother  of  three  ministers 
of  the  gospel — all  the  sons  that  she  had  that  grew  to 
manhood  ;  whose  great  disappointment  concerning  her 
sons  was  that  they  had  not  all  left  her  to  be  mission- 


Memorial  Volume,  283 

aries  in  the  darkest  continents  of  the  earth.  You  may 
remember  why  it  was  the  mother  of  John  Wesley  said 
that  she  told  him  a  thing  twenty  times,  "because 
nineteen  times  would  not  do." 

I  remember  a  young  man  who,  by  the  grace  of 
God,  was  practically  given  away  by  his  mother,  though 
this  mother  was  a  lady  of  culture  and  of  means  and  of 
social  position  and  influence.  It  was  a  good  thing  for 
the  boy  that  he  was  brought  up  in  the  home  of  another 
woman  who  was  an  earnest  Christian.  This  mother 
gave  herself  up  to  the  cultivation  of  art  in  various 
forms.  She  traveled  over  the  old  continent ;  she  was  a 
woman  who  aspired  to  shine  in  society  and  in  the 
world,  and  this  young  man,  through  the  mercy  of  God, 
was  left  in  other  hands.  During  a  consultation  at  one 
time  concerning  some  course  in  life  he  should  pursue, 
I  said  to  him,  "  If  I  were  you  I  would  go  and  have  a 
plain  talk  about  this  with  my  mother,"  and  oh,  what  a 
look  came  over  his  face.  This  woman  had  other 
children,  two  little  children  four  and  six  years  of  age 
that  she  would  send  away  to  Florida  with  a  nurse  while 
she  stayed  at  home  in  order  to  join  in  the  gayety  and 
whirl  of  the  social  world,  and  an  awful  look  came  over 
this  young  man's  face  as  he  said,  "I  have  no  mother." 
But  do  you  know  there  have  been  children  in  your 
own  home  that  might  truthfully  say,  so  far  as  the  truth 
of  God  should  have  come  to  them  from  you  is  con- 
cerned,  "  I  have  no  mother,  I  have  no  mother!  " 

Do  you  remember  the  incident  that  has  been  re- 
lated of  the  father  that  bent  over  the  bedside  of  the 
dying  child,  and  the  tears  were  in  his  eyes,  and  the 
little  fellow  said,  "Father,  please  don't  cry,  please 
don't  cry  about  me."     He  said,   "  I  know  I  am  dying, 


284  Mills  Meetings 

but,"  he  said,  "when  I  die,  and  when  I  go  to  heaven, 
I  am  going  straight  to  Jesus,  and  I  will  tell  him  that  all 
my  life  you  were  trying  to  lead  me  to  him."  O  moth- 
ers, if  the  child  should  be  called  out  of  your  home  to- 
day, could  he  go  with  such  a  message  as  that  right 
into  the  presence  of  the  Saviour  ? 

Just  one  word  more,  and  that  is  the  last.  Perhaps 
there  is  something  better  than  this.  It  is  such  a  de- 
pendence upon  God,  it  is  such  a  measure  of  consecra- 
tion, it  is  such  a  development  of  faith  in  your  own 
heart  and  life  that  you  can  take  hold  on  the  very  arm 
that  moves  the  world  and  claim  the  promise  of  God  for 
your  child.  Whatsoever  things  you  ask  in  prayer, 
"whatsoever  things  you  desire  when  you  pray,  believe 
you  have  received  them,"  and  ye  shall  have  them,  and 
shall  say  to  the  mountain,  "  Be  thou  removed,  and  be 
thou  cast  into  the  sea,  and  it  shall  be  done."  Oh,  the 
power  of  a  mother's  prayer,  the  power  of  the  mother's 
faith !  That  is  better  than  all  else  in  the  universe  for 
the  salvation  of  her  children.. 

Mr.  Moody  says  that  when  he  was  in  Oxford,  and 
when  the  young  men  gathered  night  after  night  in  a 
spirit  of  carelessness,  it  seemed  as  though  he  would 
not  be  able  to  touch  their  hearts  or  lead  any  of  them  to 
Christ.  He  noticed  in  the  congregation  several  women 
who  were  associated  with  some  of  the  undergraduates 
in  the  university,  and  he  announced  that  the  next  day 
there  would  be  a  prayer  meeting  for  the  mothers  of 
young  men  in  the  university.  Fifty  of  them  came,  and 
spent  the  afternoon  in  prayer,  and  that  night  many 
young  men  were  pressing  into  the  kingdom  of  God. 

There  was  a  mother  who  had  a  son  grown  to  man- 
hood, living  in  the  outskirts  of  the   village  of  Somer- 


Memorial  Volume.  285 

ville,  in  New  Jersey,  and  this  young  man  had  com- 
menced to  lead  a  dissolute  life  ;  and  one  night  his  mother 
pleaded  with  him  that  he  would  not  go  out  and  spend 
the  evening  away  from  her,  but  he  insisted  upon  it. 
He  said,  "  Mother,  I  am  not  going  to  be  tied  to  your 
apron  strings;  I  am  going  to  go ;  "  and  she  said, 
"  Please  try  and  remember  every  moment  to-night  that 
until  you  come  back  I  am  going  to  be  on  my  knees 
asking  God  to  save  you."  And  the  young  man,  with  a- 
rude  gesture  and  with  a  muttered  oath,  sprang  away 
from  his  mother,  and  he  went  out  and  spent  the  night 
in  an  indecent  carousal.  At  four  o'clock  in  the  morn- 
ing he  came  home.  He  had  n't  thought  of  his  mother 
in  all  those  hours.  He  saw  a  light  shining  out  from 
between  the  blinds,  and  he  turned  the  shutters  and 
looked  in,  and  there  was  his  old  mother  down  on  her 
knees,  saying,  "God  save  my  wandering  boy."  He 
went  up  to  his  room ;  he  lay  down  upon  his  couch,  but 
he  could  not  sleep.  He  finally  knelt  down,  and  as  he 
knelt  there  it  seemed  to  him  as  if  the  Redeemer's 
power  came  from  that  other  room  where  the  praying 
mother  knelt  before  God,  until  he  cried  out,  "  God  be 
merciful  to  me,  a  sinner!"  God  saved  him  that  morn- 
ing. The  word  went  out  into  the  houses  round  about 
of  his  salvation,  and  in  three  weeks  from  that  time 
there  were  between  two  and  three  hundred  of  the  young 
people  of  that  vicinity  that  stood  up  there  in  the 
church  and  confessed  that  they  accepted  Christ  as  their 
Saviour.  This  son  that  was  led  to  Christ  by  that  prayer 
of  his  mother,  this  was  the  father  of  Dr.  Talmage,  of 
Brooklyn,  and  the  father  of  Dr.  Talmage,  of  China. 

O  mothers,  take  courage  this  afternoon  !     I  almost 
fear  to  trust  myself,  if  I  should  try  to  say  a  word  con- 


286  Mills  Meetings 

cerning  my  own  life,  and  the  salvation  that  God  brought 
to  me  through  my  dear  mother.  If  I  do  speak  it  out, 
it  is  with  the  deepest  humility.  I  had  a  godly  father 
who  died  when  I  was  ten  years  of  age.  I  can  remem- 
ber him  very  plainly,  and  my  mother  had  to  be  father 
and  mother  to  three  boys  that  were  left,  and  she 
was. 

There  is  nothing  that  I  have  specified  to  you  this 
afternoon  that  God  did  not  give  to  me  in  my  mother. 
As  I  have  said  before,  my  mother's  greatest  disappoint- 
ment was  that  her  sons  were  ministers  instead  of  foreign 
missionaries,  She  set  such  a  beautiful  example  be- 
cause of  her  character  that  shined  in  the  light  of  God 
day  by  day  and  hour  by  hour ;  she  lived  for  her  children 
and  brought  to  us  gentle,  wise,  cheerful,  prayerful  and 
persevering  care  and  training.  It  seems  that  nothing 
might  be  asked  that  was  not  given  us  in  that  way  in 
our  mother ;  but  altogether  it  failed  to  save  me.  You 
know,  I  think  I  did  not  consciously  have  a  conscience 
until  I  was  fifteen  or  sixteen  years  of  age.  I  can  not 
explain  it  to  you;  I  am  not  going  to  try;  but  I  think 
that  I  was  perhaps  as  ungrateful  a  boy  as  there  ever 
was,  and  when  the  time  came  when  I  had  any  control 
over  my  own  way,  I  broke  away  from  my  early  Chris- 
tian training  and  all  restraint,  and  thousands  of  miles 
away  from  any  friend  I  went  down,  down,  down  into 
depths  to  which  the  aged  sinner  might  sink  until,  while 
I  was  still  a  boy,  I  stood  on  the  very  verge  of  a  hope- 
less death  and  eternity,  and  looked  into  all  the  black- 
ness of  the  bottomless  pit.  My  mother  was  sick,  three 
thousand  miles  away  from  me.  You  think  now  that, 
knowing  what  she  knew,  she  would  almost  have  lost 
heart  and  given  up  hope,  but  it  was  then  that  she  shut 


Memorial  Volume.  287 

herself  up  alone  with  God.  Her  hope  in  any  human 
influence,  in  the  touch  of  any  human  being  on  my  Hfe, 
had  failed;  her  confidence  in  herself  was  all  gone;  and 
there  with  God  she  so  cried  out  with  her  soul  and 
claimed  the  promise  of  God  unto  her,  that  as  the  prayer 
went  up  to  God  there  came  down  His  mighty  power, 
and  touched  me  and  cleansed  me  and  saved  me,  and 
brought  me  back  to  her  and  unto  my  Father's  house. 
O  sister !  I  should  have  been  in  the  depths  of  hell  to- 
day if  it  had  not  been  for  the  faith  and  the  prayer  of 
my  Christian  mother. 

Mothers,  take  courage  !  Let  your  own  heart  be  ut- 
terly filled  with  God !  Let  your  life  be  shut  up  with 
him  !  Let  your  soul  go  out  unto  him  and  him  alone, 
for  in  God  alone  shall  be  your  hope  and  your  stay  un- 
til you  shall  draw  down  from  the  very  throne  of  God 
the  mighty  influence  that  shall  save  your  child  as  you 
cry  unto  him. 

Another  child  was  dying,  and  the  father  stood  by 
the  bedside,  and  the  little  fellow  said,  "Father,  will 
you  please  lift  me  up,"  and  the  father  raised  him  up  a 
little  way  on  the  pillow,  and  he  said,  "Father,  lift  me 
higher,''  and  he  lifted  him  higher.  He  said,  "  Higher, 
father,  higher,''  and  he  lifted  him  up  until  the  little 
body  was  resting  almost  entirely  on  the  pillow,  and 
the  little  fellow  sa?d,  "  Father,  lift  me  higher,"  and  he 
put  his  arms  under  the  pillow,  and  gently  he  raised 
him  a  little  way  from  the  bed,  and  the  boy  said, 
"  Higher  father,  higher,  "  and  he  lifted  him  up  as  high 
as  his  arms  could  hold  the  burden,  and  he  held  him  for 
a  minute,  and  when  he  brought  down  his  arms,  the 
child  was  gone.  I  think  he  had  lifted  him  into  the 
arms  of  Christ. 


288  Mills  Meeting 

O  mothers  !  let  that  be  your  ambition  in  the  place 
into  which  God  has  called  you  ;  that  you  may  take  the 
dear  one  and  lift  him  higher,  higher  and  higher,  into 
the  Everlasting  Arms. 


THE  MIDWEEK  SABBATH. 

Wednesday,  March  2nd,  1892,  will  be  remembered 
by  the  people  of  Cincinnati  as  one  of  the  solemn  days 
in  its  history.  Men  who  recall  scenes  of  great  excite- 
ment or  depression,  days  when  hearts  were  heavy 
with  fear,  have  written  side  by  side  with  these  the 
memories  of  the  Midweek  Sabbath, 

It  has  been  said  that  the  business  world  is  not 
largely  Christian,  at  least  not  on  week  days,  and 
prophets  there  were,  who  saw  only  the  chagrin  of  dis- 
appointment in  the  effort  to  consecrate  a  day  in  the 
middle  of  the  week  to  the  worship  of  God.  But  these 
prophets  were  false  prophets.  The  business  men  of 
the  Queen  City  responded  to  the  appeal  freely  and 
fully ;  between  three  and  four  thousand  business 
houses  closed  their  doors  during  the  hours  of  serv- 
ice. Many  did  not  open  during  the  day,  and  others 
were  closed  early  in  the  afternoon,  and  did  no  more 
business  until  the  next  day.  Heads  of  firms  repre- 
senting many  millions  responded  at  once  to  the  re- 
quests of  the  committee  in  setting  aside  for  once  the 
routine  of  business  to  worship  God. 

For  hours  the  machinery  of  the  great  manufactories 
ceased  their  whirr  and  hum,  and  the  operatives  left 
their  places  to  attend  divine  worship.  Never  has  Cin- 
cinnati  so  refuted   the  slander  upon    her  fair  name, 


Memorial  Volume.  289 

While  it  can  not  be  denied  that  sin  has  a  hold  upon 
her,  the  fact  is  patent  to  all  that  at  least  three  thou- 
sand of  her  best  business  men  hold  dear  the  name  of 
the  Almighty  God. 

The  streets  for  hours  wore  a  Sabbath  aspect,  and 
the  passers-by  glanced  at  the  hanging  cards  that  an- 
nounced the  reason  for  the  silence,  impressed  with  the 
power  of  the  gospel  to  move  upon  the  hearts  of  men. 
In  some  of  the  principal  streets  nearly  all  the  stores 
were  closed,  and  to  be  open  was  to  excite  comment, 
generally  adverse,  even  when  the  commentator  was  not 
in  sympathy  with  the  revival  movement. 

The  day  was  one  of  great  consecration.  The  hours 
of  prayer  began  at  8  a.  m.  with  meeting  at  the 
homes  of  the  people,  and  upon  this  day  family  altars 
were  reared  in  homes  where  they  had  never  been  be- 
fore. At  nine  the  churches  were  thrown  open  and 
were  all  well  attended ;  thousands  of  people  looked  to 
God,  and  thousands  of  prayers  ascended  to  the  throne 
of  grace  for  the  welfare  of  the  city  and  the  salvation 
of  men.  Fully  five  thousand  attended  the  first  service 
at  Music  Hall,  and  as  many  more  would  have  been 
present  had  it  not  been  for  the  great  interest  in  the 
prayer-meetings  elsewhere. 

Indeed,  this  feeling  has  been  a  marked  feature  of 
the  revival  work.  While  tens  of  thousands  have  list- 
ened to  the  earnest  words  of  Mr.  Mills,  and  joined  with 
Mr.  Greenwood  and  the  choir  in  the  gospel  songs, 
thousands  more  caught  the  spirit  of  consecration  and 
prayer,  and  added  to  the  great  wave  of  reviving  power 
their  prayers  and  influence,  even  though  they  may 
have  been  miles  away  from  the  great  services  at  the 
Music  Hall. 


290  Mills  Meetings 

The  city  has  felt  the  presence  of  the  Spirit  of  God 
as  perhaps  never  in  its  history,  and  men  who  never 
praye'd  before  this  midweek  Sabbath,  have  learned  the 
peace  that  cometh  of  harmony  with  the  Almighty  God. 

The  opening  service  was  impressive  ;  the  great  choir 
of  seven  hundred  voices  was  in  its  place  with  that 
promptness  which  characterized  all  its  work,  and  sang 
an  opening  service  with  great  sweetness  and  power. 

Mr.  Mills  invited  Dr.  Morris,  of  St.  Paul's,  to  lead  in 
prayer,  after  which  he  invited  the  pastors  present  to 
give  their  reasons  for  being  thankful.  The  responses 
were  immediate  and  hearty,  and  were  substantially  as 
follows : 

Rev.  Johnston  Myers,  Ninth  Street  Baptist  Church  : 
"I  thank  God  for  the  unity  of  the  churches  in  this 
movement." 

Rev.  G.  R.  Robbins,  Lincoln  Park  Baptist:  "I 
thank  God  there  is  so  little  cause  for  criticism  in  this 
movement." 

Dr.  J.  W.  Simpson:  "I  want  to  thank  God  for 
this  day  taken  from  business  for  the  service  of  God, 
and  I  wish  to  thank  the  three  thousand  business  men 
who  have  made  this  day  of  prayer  possible." 

The  venerable  Dr.  R.  S.  Rust  said:  "I  have  lived 
thirty  years  in  this  city,  and  never  before  witnessed  such 
an  outpouring.  God's  name  is  written  all  over  the 
city." 

The  hymn,  "Stand  up  for  Jesus,"  was  sung  by 
the  congregation. 

Rev.  Dr.  Warren:  "There  has  never  been  a  time 
in  this  city  when  we  realized  Pentecost  so  much.  We 
are  indeed  a  mighty  host,  and  have  no  reason  to  be 
afraid." 


n 


■*  -^"'"SF 


klvX".   I'RANK    (".KANSTAl'l". 

I'ustnr  nf   I'iUli    l'r._-sl>vlori.in    Cliiir.  Ii 


R];\-.   H.  C.   I.VMAX. 
Pastor   of  Immanuel    Baptist   Church 


Rli\'.    -M     1.1  Sdl    RI) 
I'astor  of    Christie    Chapel    M.  E.  Chun  h 


ki,  \     J    i      >.MITH. 

Pastor   (  oveuauter  Rt-rnrnud    Prclis  Icri 
Churrh. 


Memorial  Volume.  291 

Rev  Dr.  Ince :  "May  the  name  of  Jesus  be  ex- 
alted. I  am  grateful  that  we  have  been  thoroughly- 
revived.  " 

Rev.  Hugh  Gilchrist:  "  It  was  a  great  outpouring 
of  the  Spirit." 

Rev.  David  McKinney:  "I  have  reason  to  be 
thankful  for  the  neighborhood  prayer-meetings  and  the 
outside  influence." 

One  minister  said:  "This  morning  the  prayer 
meeting  went  alone.  It  needed  no  assistance  from 
me." 

Rev.  Dr.  G.  K.  Morris :  "I  have  a  thought  for  the 
future.  It  will  be  one  army  under  one  leader.  So  far 
we  have  only  been  drilling,  but  now  we  are  getting 
together." 

Rev.  Dr.  Nippert:  "  Thank  God,  the  revival  has 
reached  the  German  churches." 

Rev.  Dr.  Marley,  of  Wyoming:  "The  Spirit  of 
the  Lord  has  reached  the  suburbs." 

The  hymn  was  sung:  "Like  a  Mighty  Army 
Works  the  Church  of  God." 

Rev.  J.  F.  Patton :  "My  church  was  on  the  verge 
of  extinction,  but  now  our  meetings  are  crowded." 

Rev.  A.  M.  Dawson:  "This  is  the  glorious  result 
of  united  effort,  but  my  personal  blessing  was  the  great- 
est of  all." 

Rev.  G.  Fritz,  of  the  United  Brethren  Church:  "I 
feel  like  shouting  alleluiah." 

Rev.  Dr.  J.  Z.  Tyler:  "  I  am  thankful  for  the  quick, 
ened  spirit  in  my  church,  and  the  benefit  in  my  own 
heart." 

Rev.  Sylvester  Meeks  :  "It  appears  to  me  I  see  the 
bells  on  the  horses  as  they  are  described  in  the  Scrip- 


292  Mills  Meetings 

tures.  God  is  directing  our  mechanical  arts  as  well  as 
our  ministerial  life." 

Rev.  D.  C.  Washburn:  "  Columbia  has  been  swept 
by  the  revival." 

The  hymn,  "Sound,  Sound  the  Truth,"  was  sung 
by  the  choir  and  congregation.  Mr.  Mills  now  began 
the  service.  Said  he:  "It  was  in  the  time  of  great 
exultation  that  Jesus  spoke  the  works  of  the  chapter  I 
shall  read."  And  he  read  from  Luke  xxii.  31  :  "And 
the  lyOrd  said,  Simon,  behold  Satan  hath  desired  thee." 
He  also  read  from  Mark  xvi.,  relating  the  history  of 
the  tidings  of  the  resurrection  of  Christ. 

Said  the  evangelist:  "  A  day  of  this  sort  would  not 
be  complete  unless  Mr.  Greenwood  sang  for  us  *  Christ 
Arose.'"  Mr.  Greenwood  sang  the  solo,  and  was 
joined  by  the  congregation  in  the  chorus. 

At  its  close  the  evangelist's  face  was  beaming  with 
smiles,  and  he  said:  "It  appears  to  me  I  would  like  to 
keep  on  singing  that." 

After  a  few  announcements  he  continued:  "Let 
this  be  a  day  entirely  consecrated  to  God.  Let  us  go 
out  into  the  highways  and  hedges,  and  constrain  people 
to  come  to  Christ." 

The  hymn,  "Loving  Kindness,"  was  sung  by  the 
congregation.  He  announced  his  text,  Mark  xvi.,  por- 
tion of  seventh  verse:  "And  Peter."  We  give  a  sten- 
ographic report  of  this  sermon. 


SERMON    BY    MR.   MILLS. 

Text:  "And  Peter." — Mark  xvi.  7. 

There  is  one  thing  about  my  text  this  morning  that 
will    recommend  it,    and  that  is  that  you   will    easily 


Memorial  Volume.  293 

remember  it.  It  is  composed  of  two  words ;  they  are 
botli  little  words,  but  at  the  same  time  they  are  very  im- 
portant. They  are  found  in  the  sixteenth  chapter  of 
Mark,  a  portion  of  the  seventh  verse:  "And  Peter." 
If  it  were  "but  Peter,"  or  "except  Peter,"  it  would 
be  easier  to  understand ;  or  if  some  other  name  had 
been  used,  that  of  John  or  of  James,  we  might  under- 
stand it.  For  this  was  the  first  message  sent  to  any- 
body by  Jesus  after  his  resurrection.  He  said,  "But 
go  your  way,  tell  his  disciples  and  Peter  that  He  will 
see  them  again."  Very  early  in  the  morning  Mary 
Magdalene,  and  Mary  the  mother  of  James,  and  an- 
other, had  gone  to  the  rough  hewn  tomb,  and  when 
they  had  arrived  they  wondered  how  they  would  roll 
away  the  great  stone  from  the  door  of  the  sepulcher. 
But  they  found  it  rolled  away.  And  as  they  entered 
they  saw  a  young  man  clothed  in  a  long  white  garment, 
and  they  were  afraid.  But  he  said  unto  them,  "Be 
not  frightened ;  Jesus  is  arisen.  Go  tell  his  disciples 
and  Peter." 

There  is  no  character  in  history  that  gives  me  so 
much  comfort  as  that  of  Peter.  For  when  I  think  of 
this  man,  of  his  natural  characteristics,  his  sublime 
opportunity  ;  and  then  remember  that  he  cast  all  of 
those  opportunities  away  in  his  distress,  I  feel  like  say- 
ing,  "Who  of  us  shall  stand?" 

Here  was  a  man  of  great  decision  of  character ; 
here  was  a  man  who  had  left  everything  to  be  a  dis- 
ciple of  Jesus  Christ ;  here  was  a  man  who  had  been 
with  Jesus  when  the  heavens  opened,  and  had  heard 
the  Father  say,  "This  is  my  beloved  Son,  in  whom  I 
am  well  pleased."  You  might  think  that  if  any  one 
had  an   indestructible  faith  in  Jesus  Christ,  he  would 


294  Mills  Meetings 

have  it.  And  yet  he  fell.  I  feel  as  though  the  heart 
of  man  were  good,  that  it  ought  not  to  be  discouraged. 
But  when  I  remember  that  the  heart  of  man  is  desper- 
ately wicked,  I  begin  to  doubt  whether  any  man  can 
stand  erect  and  gain  the  victory. 

And  then  when  I  remember  the  rest  of  the  mes- 
sage, how  magnificently  he  was  restored,  how  his  sins 
seemed  to  be  washed  away ;  when  I  remember  how  he 
stood  and  charged  home  upon  the  destroyers  of  Jesus 
Christ  the  terrible  crime  they  had  committed ;  how  he 
was  at  last  willing  to  give  himself  unto  death  for  the 
Lord  Jesus ;  and  when  I  remember  that  he  said  at  last* 
"Let  me  die  head  downward,  because  lam  not  worthy 
to  die  as  my  master  did ;"  when  I  remember  all  these 
things  I  say,  "There  is  hope  for  me,  there  is  hope  for 
you,  my  brethren,  in  the  story  of  Peter.  "  And  Peter." 
Peter  did  not  fall  at  once.  In  the  first  place,  he  was 
self-confident.  So  long  as  a  man  has  any  confidence  in 
himself,  he  is  bound  to  fall.  Peter  was  dependent  upon 
himself,  and  pride  always  goeth  before  destruction,  a 
haughty  spirit  before  a  fall. 

And  then  when  Jesus  was  arrested,  Peter  followed 
him  afar  off.  He  was  still  following.  If  any  one  had 
said,  "This  man  was  one  of  his  followers,"  I  do  not 
think  that  he  would  have  denied  Him.  But  when  they 
went  into  the  house  where  they  were  to  have  the  mock 
trial,  Peter  went  also.  John,  as  he  stood  at  the  door- 
way, when  he  saw  Peter,  asked  the  maiden  at  the 
entrance  to  let  him  in,  and  she  did  so.  I  am  inclined 
to  think  that  inside  of  the  house  there  may  have  been 
two  large  rooms.  In  one  of  them  was  the  Lord  Jesus 
and  his  faithful  followers,  and  in  the  other  were  some  of 
the  soldiers  and  servants  of  the  high  priest ;  and  when 


Memorial  Volume.  295 

Peter  came  in  he  took  in  the  situation  at  a  glance. 
Here  was  Jesus,  and  if  he  ever  needed  a  loyal  follower, 
he  needed  him  then ;  but  Peter  went  and  sat  among 
the  enemies  of  Jesus,  and  warmed  himself  at  the  fire. 
Then  he  was  near  to  falling.  I  do  not  think  that  a  man 
can  sit  down  among  the  enemies  of  Jesus  Christ  and  be 
distinguished  from  them. 

And  there  came  one  of  the  maids  of  the  high 
priest,  and  when  she  saw  Peter,  she  said,  "  Here,  this 
man  was  also  with  him."  And  he  said,  "  Woman,  I 
know  him  not."  And  after  a  little  while  a  man  saw 
him  and  said,  "This  man  was  in  the  garden  with 
him;"  and  Peter  replied,  "  I  was  not."  And  a  third 
time  Peter  denied  his  Master.  Then  the  cock  crew, 
and  Peter  went  out  and  wept  bitterly. 

Four  thoughts  are  suggested  by  the  story  of  the  de- 
nial and  restoration  of  Peter.  In  the  first  place  the 
Lord  never  forgets  his  unfaithful  disciples.  We  read 
that  there  will  be  a  time  when  God  will  forget  our  sins, 
but  there  never  comes  a  time  when  God  forgets  his  un- 
faithful followers.  He  does  not  say  to  Mary  that  he 
will  as  a  reward  see  John  and  James,  but  he  says, 
"  Go  and  tell  Peter  that  I  will  see  him."  It  is  the  old 
story  of  the  prodigal  son. 

"  Though  I  forget  Him  and  wander  away, 
Still  he  doth  love  me  wherever  I  stray  ; 
Back  to  his  dear,  loving  arms  I  would  flee 
When  I  remember  that  Jesus  loves  me. 

Oft  have  I  felt  my  sinful  heart, 
Prone  from  my  Saviour  to  depart ; 
But  though  I  oft  have  him  forgot, 
His  loving  kindness  changes  not." 


296  Mills  Meetings 

I  know  of  a  man  who  invited  a  minister  to  go  home 
with  him  one  night  to  supper.  When  they  went  into 
the  beautiful  dweUing  house  he  said  to  the  clergyman  : 
"You  are  the  first  person  I  have  invited  to  break 
bread  with  me  for  seventeen  years.  I  have  an  imbecile 
son,  and  I  endeavor  to  treat  him  just  as  though  he  had 
full  possession  of  his  mind. 

"I  have  been  afraid  that  if  I  should  invite  any  one 
here  he  would  be  embarrassed,  but  I  have  felt  from 
what  you  have  said  in  your  sermons  that  he  would  not 
mind  you."  Then  they  went  down  into  the  dining- 
room,  and  there  at  a  chair  at  the  table  was  the  imbecile 
son.  The  meal  passed  off  quietly,  and  afterwards  in 
another  room,  when  the  two  gentlemen  were  convers- 
ing about  the  boy's  case,  the  father  remarked  that  he 
had  not  been  born  so.  "When  he  was  young,"  said 
the  father,  "  he  had  a  terrible  fever,  and  when  he  had 
recovered  his  physical  well-being,  it  was  found  that  he 
had  lost  his  mind ;  and  thus  he  has  been  for  seventeen 
years."  The  minister  replied,  "  What  a  blessed  thing 
it  would  have  been  if  God  could  have  taken  him  away 
when  he  was  young."  "  Oh,  you  could  not  have  said 
anything  that  would  pain  me  as  that  does.  He  is  my 
son,"  answered  the  father.  Such  is  the  tender,  un- 
selfish love  of  the  great  Father. 

In  the  second  place,  he  takes  great  pains  to  assure 
people  of  his  love.  There  are  many  books  written  for 
the  backslider — Hosea,  Amos,  much  of  the  Psalms  and 
others  were  written  that  God  might  say,  ' '  Return  unto 
me,  and  I  will  return  unto  you." 

The  story  of  the  prodigal  son,  the  tenderest  and 
most  helpful  words  that  God  ever  uttered,  has  its  first 
application   to  those  that  have  been  in  the  Father's 


Memorial  Volume.  297 

house,  and  then  have  wandered  off  into  a  far  country. 
John  and  James  did  not  need  to  be  assured  of  His  love, 
but  Peter — how  did  he  feel  when  Jesus  lay  in  the 
sepulcher? 

I  have  tried  to  imagine  his  feelings,  and  have  failed. 
It  was  a  sad  time  for  all  of  the  disciples.  We  read  that 
thus  far  the  disciples  had  not  understood  the  saying  that 
Jesus  should  arise  from  the  dead.  When  the  great 
darkness  came  on  the  world  at  the  time  of  the  crucifix- 
ion there  was  a  deeper  darkness  that  fell  upon  the 
hearts  of  the  disciples.  They  felt  that  everything  was 
at  an  end;  they  hardly  knew  what  to  say.  It  seemed 
to  them  that  the  one  in  whom  they  had  trusted  had 
been  overcome  by  the  power  of  God.  It  was  very 
hard  for  all  of  them,  but  infinitely  harder  for  Peter. 
They  could  comfort  one  another,  but  Peter  had  no  one 
to  love  him,  no  one  to  speak  a  kind  word  to  him.  The 
enemies  of  Jesus  had  turned  him  out,  and  the  friends 
of  Jesus  would  have  nothing  to  do  with  him.  I  can 
imagine  that  he  walked  those  streets,  a  poor,  disheart- 
ened, discouraged  man. 

The  disciples  may  have  been  gathered  in  that 
upper  chamber ;  they  may  have  been  speaking  about 
the  events  of  the  last  few  days ;  they  may  have  talked 
about  the  coming  out  of  the  band  of  soldiers  to  arrest 
Jesus,  or  they  may  have  been  bitterly  talking  about 
Judas.  Judas — he  had  destroyed  himself.  There 
was  no  question  about  excommunicating  him.  And 
then  they  said:  "Peter  denied  Jesus  three  times." 
What  should  they  do  with  him.  "  Pass  a  resolution  of 
censure,"  one  may  have  said.  "I  never  thought  that 
any  good  would  come  out  of  Peter,"  another  may  have 
exclaimed,  "I  thought  that   Peter, "  continued  a  third. 


298  Mills  Meetings 

"was  a  good  man  until  that  time  when  he  tried  to  walk 
on  the  water  and  went  down  ;  I  said  then,  '  I  will  keep 
my  eye  on  him.  My  friend,  some  day  you  will  go 
down  and  never  come  up.'"  A  fourth  may  have  said, 
"I  believed  in  him  until  this  moment,  but  now  I  must, 
give  him  up."  And  Andrew?  What  could  he  say? 
He  could  only  stand  silent  while  they  said  unkind 
things  about  his  brother.  And  Peter  ?  He  might  have 
gone  out  to  the  place  of  the  crucifixion  and  stood 
under  the  cross,  and  then  have  gone  about  wandering 
from  place  to  place  in  search  of  light  and  comfort. 
And  last,  turning  to  his  last  resort,  he  comes  to  the 
room  where  the  disciples  were  gathered.  He  drags  his 
heavy  feet  up  the  stairway,  pauses  a  moment  at  the 
door,  and  goes  in.  Oh,  what  a  cold  atmosphere  was 
there !  How  the  friends  of  Jesus  draw  back  from  him 
as  he  enters.  And  then  he  turns  and  goes  out  again 
into  the  world  where  he  has  no  friends,  and  no  possi- 
bility ot  sympathy.  Then  suddenly  another  hand  is 
laid  up  on  the  latch,  and  a  woman  comes  rushing  in 
crying,  "Jesus  has  risen.  He  will  see  you  all  again. 
And,  Peter,  He  wants  to  see  you.'  " 

How  joyful  the  change.  Down  the  stairs  he  rushed, 
and  the  first  man  that  went  into  the  tomb  was  this  dis- 
ciple who  had  denied  the  Lord. 

I  knew  of  a  boy  who  went  away  from  home,  saying, 
"  I  do  not  know  when  I  shall  return  ;  watch  for  me." 
For  eleven  years  the  old  man  went  to  every  train, 
until  at  last  the  son  came,  and  the  aged  father,  with 
outstretched  hands,  exclaimed,  "  He  has  come." 

In  the  third  place,  Jesus  easily  forgives  his  unfaith- 
ful disciples  when  they  are  truly  penitent.  Like  the 
father  that  forgives  his  children !     Like  the  father  that 


Memorial  Volume.  299 

knew  his  son  when  me  was  a  long  way  off,  and  ran  to 
the  young  man,  in  rags  though  he  was,  and  fell  upon 
his  neck  and  kissed  him.  And  the  son  said  unto  him, 
"Father,  father,  I  have  sinned  against  heaven  and  in 
thy  sight,  and  am  no  more  worthy  to  be  called  thy 
son."  But  the  father  said:  "This  is  my  son.  This 
my  son  was  dead,  and  is  alive  again  ;  and  was  lost,  and 
is  found." 

Likewise  there  is  joy  among  the  angels  of  God 
over  one  soul  that  repenteth.  Like  that  father  that 
waited  for  the  battle  to  end,  and  when  victory  came 
felt  no  joy  over  it.  "Is  the  young  man  Absalom 
safe?"  And  then  when  they  told  him  that  Absalom 
was  dead,  he  exclaimed,  "O  my  son  Absalom  !  would 
God  I  had  died  for  thee,  O  Absalom,  my  son,  my  son." 

And  then,  in  the  last  place,  the  Lord  Jesus  uses  His 
restored  followers  in  His  service.  He  used  Peter  at 
once.  I  sometimes  wonder  why  Peter  preached  the 
sermon  on  the  day  of  Pentecost.  I  no  longer  wonder. 
Every  one  can  not  say  with  Peter,  "  You  did  not  know 
him,  but  I  knew  him."  He  could  say,  "I  have  lacer- 
ated His  heart,  and  He  has  forgiven  me." 

Oh,  there  are  those  who  are  waiting  for  the  love  of 
human  hearts,  and  the  help  of  human  hands.  You 
did  not  think  that  the  man  that  had  been  converted 
would  stand.  Well,  h:^  did  not.  But  he  might  have 
stood  if  you  had  helped  him.  The  unbeliever  went 
back  to  the  world,  but  if  you  had  helped  him  he  might 
have  entered  the  Kingdom.  They  are  not  with  us 
to-day.  Oh,  in  God's  name,  go  tell  Peter  that  He 
wants  to  see  him  again.  And  Peter!  If  you  are  here 
this  morning,  I  wish  to  convey  to  you  a  message. 

O  prodigal  child,  come  home  ! 


300  Mills  Meetings 

In  the  afternoon,  Mr.  Mills  spoke  to  seven  thou- 
sand people  from  the  text  "We  stumble  at  noonday 
as  in  the  night"  (Isaiah  ix.  lo).  These  words,  he  said, 
were  true  of  the  people  in  the  day  they  were  uttered ; 
and  are  true  of  the  people  to-day  who  do  not  come  up 
to  the  full  measure  of  their  opportunity.  The  people  of 
this  city  never  had  such  an  opportunity  for  turning  to 
God,  yet  some  are  stumbling  at  noonday  as  in  the  night. 
At  the  judgment  day  there  will  be  no  excuse  for  those 
who  have  witnessed  these  things  and  do  not  repent. 
The  text  applies  to  those  to  whom  God's  love  has  been 
especially  manifested,  and  who  have  made  no  response. 
They  have  been  saved  when  near  death,  spared  from 
great  trouble,  and  afflictions,  but  have  been  indifferent 
to  the  calls  of  mercy.  The  person  who  turns  away 
from  Christ  exhibits  great  baseness,  because  he  knows 
the  story  of  the  Saviour's  love.  The  text  applies  again 
to  those  people  who  cherish  a  secret  hope  of  salvation 
through  Christ,  but  are  not  willing  to  confess  Him,  It 
applies  to  the  church  members  only  partly  consecrated 
to  God.  It  applies  to  Christians  who  are  not  con- 
cerned about  the  salvation  of  their  friends.  This  is  the 
opportunity  to  have  friends  brought  to  Christ.  Small 
Christians  stumble  in  the  light  as  in  the  days  of  dark- 
ness ?  The  text  applies  to  those  who  are  not  yet ' 
Christians. 

Mr.  Mills  spoke  with  great  force  of  the  opportunity 
given  to  the  young  to  be  saved.  Some  were  surprised 
because  he  had  said  that  two-thirds  of  those  who  be- 
come Christians  are  converted  before  they  are  twenty. 
Upon  the  actual  count  made  by  the  evangelist,  he 
ascertained  that  in  the  congregation  there  were  three 
thousand  who  had  become  Christians  before  the  age  of 


Kl',\.   T.   1'.  COWUKX. 

I'aNtnr  i.f   N  ..rk  Street   M .    K.  Chiirrh. 


REV.  J.  M.  SIMOXTOX. 

stiir  tif    riiinl   I'li-vlvifrian  Lhiin  li 


i 


RP:V.  I).   .McKlXXEV. 

Pastor  of   First    Reformed    I'resliyteriar 
Church 


REV.  J.  W.  MAGRUDER. 

Pastor  of  Camp  Washington  M.  E.  (_  hiirch. 


Memorial  Volume.  301 

twenty,  about  three  hundred  who  had  been  saved  be- 
tween the  ages  of  twenty  and  thirty ;  fifty  between  the 
ages  of  thirty  and  forty ;  ten  between  the  ages  of 
forty  and  fifty  ;  five  between  fifty  and  sixty,  and  three 
who  had  passed  their  sixtieth  year. 

The  evening  service  called  out  a  congregation  tliat 
filled  the  great  hall.  The  service  of  song  was  unusually 
fine,  the  choir  seemingly  in  perfect  harmony  with  the 
leader,  and  he  in  prayerful  unison  with  the  Spirit  of 
God. 

After  brief  prayers,  Mr.  Mills  preached  an  unusually 
strong  sermon  on  the  unpardonable  sin,  from  the  text, 
"Therefore  they  can  not  believe  "  (John  xii.  39). 

The  day  closed  with  an  after-meeting,  in  which  the 
Spirit  of  God  called  many  from  their  sins,  and  with 
prayerful  hearts  the  great  congregation  separated,  per- 
haps never  to  meet  again  under  such  auspices. 

From  all  sides  came  the  thought  that  hearts  had 
been  purified,  souls  elevated,  men  and  women  saved 
for  an  eternity  of  peace  by  the  day  of  prayer. 


THE  CLOSING  DAY. 

From  Wednesday,  the  Day  of  Prayer,  to  the  close, 
all  the  meetings  were  well  attended,  filling  Music  Hall 
at  each  service. 

The  closing  day  will  never  be  forgotten  by  those 
who  were  present  at  any  of  the  services,  and  many  en- 
tered the  Kingdom  of'God  on  this,  the  last  opportun- 
ity of  the  revival.  Mr.  Mills  preached  four  times,  and 
the  congregations  were  sufficiently  different  to  test  the 
most  versatile  of  speakers. 


302  Mills  Meetings 

at  the  house  of  refuge. 

At  9:45  A.  M.  he  was  seated  on  the  platform  in  the 
chapel  at  the  House  of  Refuge,  watching  the  squads  of 
boys  and  girls  filing  quietly  in  to  their  seats.  A  few 
minutes  later,  after  the  three  hundred  and  fifty  boys 
and  girls  in  regulation  garb  had  all  been  seated,  and 
tier  above  tier  of  little  shaven  heads  rose  as  one,  casting 
"his  eye  towards  the  back  of  the  room,  Superintendent 
Levi  S.  Fulton  gave  out  the  hymn,  "Seeking  to  Save. " 
The  singing  showed  that  the  inmates  are  very  carefully 
trained,  for  it  was  clear  and  loud  and  in  perfect  time. 

Mr.  H.  Thane  Miller  led  in  prayer,  and  three  hun- 
dred and  fifty  heads  were  bowed,  each  boy  resting  his 
head  upon  his  right  hand.  Mr.  Greenwood  sang 
"Where  is  My  Wandering  Boy  To-night?"  and  his 
tender  words  touched  some  of  the  older  boys  visibly. 
One  little  fellow  sobbed  as  though  his  heart  was  break- 
ing, until  the  boys  caught  up  the  chorus,  at  the  invita- 
tion of  Mr.  Mills,  and  then  he  forgot  his  sorrows  in 
the  effort  to  join  in  with  the  rest. 

Mr.  Mills  preached  to  the  unfortunate  little  ones  a 
tender,  hopeful  sermon,  directing  them  for  guidance  to 
Him  who  has  said,  * '  Suffer  little  Children  to  come  unto 
me."  He  closed  with  these  words:  "  Boys,  I  want  to 
tell  you  that  God  can  make  you  whiter  than  snow,  and 
He  will  commence  right  away  if  you  will  let  Him. 
You  may  die  to-morrow  and  go  right  into  His  presence, 
and  so  you  had  better  begin  now.  Or  you  may  not 
die  for  a  long  time.  I  am  not  so  much  afraid  of  your 
dying  as  of  your  getting  hard  hearts.  There  are  many 
people  who  have  bodies  that  are  alive,  but  hearts  that 
are  dead.      I  don't  think  that  I  shall  ever  forget  this 


Memorial  Volume.  303 

visit.  I  would  rather  see  you  all  become  Christians 
than  any  congregation  I  have  addressed.  Will  you  do 
it,  girls?"  Mr.  Mills  looked  suddenly  up  to  the  gal- 
lery where  the  girls  were  seated  when  he  said  this,  and 
was  rather  startled  to  have  them  all  reply  as  with  one 
voice,  "Yes,  sir."  At  the  request  to  stand  up  as  an 
indication  of  a  wish  to  become  Christians,  every  boy 
and  girl  of  the  three  hundred  and  fifty  responded. 

Mr.  Mills  then  told  them  that  if  they  should  ever 
be  in  any  city  where  he  was  working  he  would  be  glad 
to  have  them  come  up  and  tell  him  that  they  had  been 
Christians  ever  since  the  day  he  spoke  at  the  House  of 
Refuge.  Such  things  are  by  no  means  rare  in  Mr. 
Mills'  experience. 

AT   THE    WORK    HOUSE. 

A  few  minutes  later,  and  Mr.  Mills  was  facing  a 
very  different  audience  at  the  Work  House.  In  the  sea 
of  countenances  fronting  the  platform  there  were  five 
hundred  and  sixty-three  faces  of  all  types  of  brutality 
and  vice.  There  was  but  one  good  face  among  all  of 
the  upturned  countenances,  and  the  mental  attitudes 
of  the  listeners,  as  thus  plainly  evidenced,  ranged  all 
the  way  from  that  of  indifference  to  that  of  bitter  hos- 
tility. Mr.  Mills  and  his  congregation  afforded  a  bet- 
ter study  on  this  occassion  than  at  any  other  gathering 
in  the  present  series  of  meetings.  The  revivalist  has 
at  no  time  made  such  a  successful  assault  upon  the 
emotions  of  his  auditors  under  such  unfavorable  con- 
ditions. Judge  Moses  F.  Wilson  and  Major  Morgan 
sat  on  either  side  of  Mr.  Mills. 

General  Secretary  G.  T.  Howser,  of  the  Y.  M.  C. 
A.,   made  a  short  address.      Dr.   J.  J.    Francis  led    in 


304  Mills  Meetings 

prayer.  Mr.  Greenwood  then  sang  "What  Shal  Ithe 
Harvest  Be?"  Mr.  Mills  read  from  the  fifty-first  Psalm. 
This  Psalm  he  termed  a  prayer,  and  declared  that  it  was 
written  by  one  of  the  best  men  that  ever  lived,  who 
was  at  the  same  time  one  of  the  very  worst.  David 
was  very  wicked,  and  he  became  very  good.  He  cov- 
eted his  neighbor's  wife,  and  killed  his  neighbor  in  or- 
der that  he  might  obtain  her.  And  this  was  his  prayer 
for  forgiveness:  "  Cleanse  me  from  my  sins."  "Men 
and  women,  that  is  what  we  want.  God  does  not 
whitewash  a  man,  but  He  washes  him  thoroughly  un- 
til he  is  pure.  During  the  last  few  weeks  there  have 
been  something  like  eight  thousand  people  who  have 
come  to  Christ  in  the  great  city  outside  of  these  walls. 
One  man  recently  discharged  from  this  institution  is  of 
that  number.  I  want  you  to  sing  with  Mr.  Green- 
wood the  song,  'Pass  Me  Not,  O  Gentle  Saviour,'  and 
as  you   sing  the  words,   think  about  their  meaning." 

The  singing  was  participated  in  by  the  prisoners. 
The  colored  men  sang  with  great  heartiness. 

Mr.  Mills  then  began  to  speak  from  the  words  of 
Psalm  xxxviii.  i8  :    "I  will  be  sorry  for  my  sin." 

He  plead  earnestly  with  these  men  whose  sinful  life 
had  separated  them  from  their  fellow-men.  About  one 
hundred  and  twenty-five  responded  to  his  invitation  to 
signify  by  rising,  their  desire  to  lead  better  lives. 

AFTERNOON    SERVICE. 

The  crowd  began  to  gather  at  12  m.  for  the  after- 
noon service,  which  was  to  be  a  sermon  to  those  who 
had  signed  cards,  and  had  indicated  during  the  revival 
their  desire  to  turn  irom  their  former  life,  and  for  those 
who  were  still  unsaved, 


Rp;V.   Iv.  ARMSTROXC;    IXCI" 

r.Tstor  of  Mt.   Aiilnini    liapllst    Cluir. 


Kl'A'.  J.    W.   i'lv'l'J'KS. 

I'a-tor    ..f  Avniulale    M.  K.  C'lii 


o.sCAk    SWIvI'.W. 

I':^^tOl■    cif   l.asUTii    A\cinie    (   liristi;i 
Cliuicli. 


Ri",\'.  joHx  oirrciix. 

or  of  Mt.   Aiiliurn    Geriiiaii    M.E. 
Church. 


Memorial  Volume.  305 

The  great  chorus  began  to  gather  very  soon  after 
12,  and  at  2  o'clock  one  thousand  singers  filled  the 
platform.  On  the  arrival  of  Mr.  Lawrence  B.  Green- 
wood, he  was  very  much  surprised  by  the  presentation 
of  a  fine  gold  watch  as  a  souvenir  of  the  respect  and 
love  of  the  choir.  The  presentation  was  made  by  Mr. 
E.  Shipley  with  a  few  timely  remarks  in  which  he 
alluded  to  the  words  so  often  used  by  Mr.  Greenwood, 
"  Take  the  time  right  from  my  hand."  On  the  inside 
of  the  back  is  the  inscription:  "Presented  to  Mr. 
Lawrence  B.  Greenwood  by  the  Music  Hall  Revival 
Chorus,  March,   1892." 

Mr.  Greenwood  was  somewhat  overcome,  but  mod- 
estly expressed  his  thanks,  saying  he  would  hardly 
know  what  to  do  in  the  future  without  the  assistance 
of  the  choir. 

In  nine  minutes  by  the  watch  every  seat  in  the 
Music  Hall  was  filled  for  the  afternoon  service,  and  the 
doors  were  opened  a  full  hour  before  the  service. 

The  choir,  led  by  Mr.  Greenwood,  never  sang  so 
well,  entering  into  the  spirit  of  song  with  a  fervor  that 
impressed  all  who  had  the  pleasure  of  hearing  them. 

"  It  is  Well  with  my  Soul,"  "  A  Shelter  in  a  Time  of 
Storm,"  "Glory  to  God,"  and  many  others  were 
rendered  as  only  a  great  choir  of  one  thousand  voices, 
under  the  direction  of  a  man  v^^ho  has  striven  not  so 
much  for  artistic  effect  as  for  that  pathos  and  tender- 
ness that  makes  a  Gospel  song  at  once  a  song  and  a 
benediction,  could  render  them. 

Few  men  could  have  done  what  Mr.  Greenwood  did 
in  the  management  of  so  large  a  body  of  singers.  He 
could  not  have  done  it  had  it  been  for  any  other  occa- 
sion than  the  worship  of  God.     But  in  this  great  choir 


3o6  Mills  Meetings 

were  hundreds  of  consecrated  men  and  women  who 
loved  to  sing  the  songs  of  peace,  and  who  set  aside  all 
personal  matters  to  be  present  at  these  meetings. 

God  only  knows  how  many  souls  have  been  brought 
to  a  knowledge  of  sinfulness  and  into  the  kingdom  by 
the  sweetness  and  power  of  the  songs  of  this  great 
volunteer  choir. 

After  prayer  by  Rev.  Dr.  Curtis,  Mr.  Mills  took 
for  his  text:  "And  we  came  to  Kadesh-Barnea, " 
(Deut  i.  19),  and  from  this  text  preached  a  last  appeal  to 
those  out  of  Christ. 

The  responses  were  many,  and  the  gleanings  of  the 
last  day  added  many  souls  to  the  kingdom.  After  an 
interval  only  long  enough  to  allow  the  ushers  and  sing- 
ers to  get  a  light  lunch,  the  doors  were  again  opened, 
and  the  hall  filled  to  its  utmost  limit  in  a  few  moments. 

FAREWELL    SERVICE. 

Thousands  went  away.  The  Odeon,  which  had  been 
opened,  was  filled  with  a  congregation  who  listened  to 
an  eloquent  sermon  by  the  Rev.  Johnston  Myers,  of 
the  Ninth  street  Baptist  Church,  and  here  some  seventy 
rose  for  prayers. 

The  sight  at  Music  Hall  was  impressive ;  the  mass 
of  faces  filled  every  inch  of  room  in  the  auditorium  and 
balconies,  and  looked  into  the  faces  of  twelve  hundred 
more  on  the  platform.  The  aisles  were  filled  in  spite 
of  the  efforts  of  the  ushers  to  reserve  the  two  on  the 
sides,  and  when  the  audience  rose  to  join  in  the  songs 
the  scene  was  indescribable. 

On  the  platform  in  front  of  the  choir  sat  the  pas- 
tors of  the  churches  who  had  worked  for  weeks  in  the 
revival,  and  with  them  their  wives.      Many  prominent 


Memorial  Volume.  307 

laymen  were  also  present.  Of  the  pastors  present  the 
following  were  recognized  :  Rev.  J.  W.  Peters,  Rev. 
W.  H.  Warren,  Rev,  John  J.  Francis,  Rev.  B,  C.  Ly- 
man, Rev.  D.  McKinney,  Rev.  E.  S.  Lewis,  Rev. 
Geo.  K.  Morris,  Rev.  R.  S.  Rust,  Rev.  John  W. 
Shorten,  Rev.  M.  LeSourd,  Rev.  J.  M.  Soburn,  Rev. 
A.  B.  Riggs,  Rev.  H.  Liebhart,  Rev.  John  Pearson, 
Mr.  George  Howser,  Rev.  E.  A.  Ince,  Rev.  Henry  M. 
Curtis,  Rev.  A.  Judson  Sage,  Rev.  W.  McKibbin, 
Rev,  J.  W.  Simpson,  Rev.  P.  Robertson,  Rev.  F.  C. 
Monfort,  Rev.  E.  D  Morris,  Rev.  S.  M.  Chesney, 
Rev.  W.  C.  Bradford,  Rev.  A.  M.  Dawson,  Rev.  L. 
L.  Overman,  Rev.  W,  B.  Irwin,  Rev,  C,  J,  Tannar, 
Rev.  J.  Ferris  Patton,  Rev.  Jos.  C.  W.  Gernel,  Rev. 
J.  E.  Bailey,  Rev.  W.  E.  Loucks,  Rev.  John  Oetjen, 
Rev,  J.  C.  Irwin,  Rev.  D.  C.  Washburn,  Rev.  J.  C. 
Hartzell,  Rev.  W.  C.  Payne,  Rev.  Oscar  Sweeney, 
Rev.  C.  O.  Shirey,  Rev.  Frank  GranstafC  Rev.  J.  Z. 
Tyler,  Rev,  J,  M,  Anderson,  Rev.  J.  W.  Magruder, 
and  Rev,  D.  J,  Starr. 

Mr,  Mills  was  at  his  best,  and  smiled  as  only  he  can 
smile,  as  he  glanced  over  the  great  congregation. 

After  Mr.  Greenwood  sang  "  Throw  Out  the  Life 
Line "  for  the  last  time,  and  eight  thousand  voices 
joined  in  the  now  familiar  chorus,  prayers  were  offered 
by  leading  divines.  Mr.  Mills  announced  his  text  : 
"Finally,  brethren,  farewell;  be  perfect,  be  of  good 
comfort,  be  of  one  mind,  live  in  peace,  and  the  God 
of  love  and  peace  shall  be  with  you  "  (II,  Cor,  xiii.) 
He  spoke  with  unusual  tenderness,  rising  at  times  to 
eloquence,  in  which  were  voiced  his  strong  convictions 
against  certain  lines  of  business,  and  forms  of  so-called 
amusements. 


308  Mills  Meetings 

The  congregation  listened  with  attention,  breaking 
occasionally  into  the  applause  that  had  been  restrained 
for  weeks  and  which  now  accented  the  harmony  of 
the  Christian  people  with  the  principles  he  advanced. 

Brief  extracts  from  his  sermon  will  serve  to  recall 
to  those  who  heard  that  portion  which  lack  of  ^ace 
forbids  publishing. 

There  is  just  one  way  to  get  at  the  truth  of  God's 
word,  and  that  is  to  go  at  it  earnestly.  To  study  it 
with  a  desire  and  a  willingness  to  do  as  the  light  comes 
to  you,  and  to  pray  for  divine  guidance. 

There  are  three  ways  of  prayer.  All  men  pray  oc- 
casionally. One  of  the  professed  infidels  in  a  storm  at 
sea  went  down  on  his  knees  in  an  agony  of  prayer. 
Take  any  man  in  difficulty  and  affliction,  and  he  will 
pray.  I  do  not  criticise  this,  for  it  is  right,  but  pray 
at  oth^r  times  also.  You  should  pray  habitually. 
Daniel  w^as  a  good  man,  and  he  prayed  three  times  a 
day.  You  can  take  a  little  time  at  noon,  as  well  as  at 
home  in  the  morning  and  evening.  The  best  way  to 
pray  is  unceasingly.  Our  Catholic  friends  speak  of 
offering  up  the  deeds  to  God,  and  that  is  what  I  mean 
— that  all  men  should  pray  unceasingly. 

Implicit  obedience  is  a  way  of  getting  light  from 
the  Bible.  Then  men  ask  what  we  shall  do  about 
questionable  things.  If  you  do  things  that  3'ou  believe 
are  right,  if  they  are  wrong,  the  responsibility  rests 
with  God.  Most  things  that  people  call  questionable 
are  wrong.  They  ask,  Is  it  right  to  read  Sunday  pa- 
pers ?  To  dance  ?  To  go  to  the  theaters  ?  To  mark 
home-made  goods  as  foreign  ?  It  is  always  wrong  to 
do  those  things  which  are  not  right.  It  is  never  right 
to  do  wrong.     In  connection  with  many  of  these  things, 


Memorial  Volume.  309 

they  are  wrong  in  themselves.  There  are  theaters  that 
are  utterly  demoralizing.  There  are  some  bills  repre- 
senting the  show  that  are  wrong,  cursed  in  themselves, 
and  there  is  a  condemnation  on  your  mayor  and  your 
city  council ;  there  is  a  condemnation  of  your  people 
for  allowing  it.  While  I  have  no  doubt  that  there  are 
iriany  pure  people  on  the  stage,  yet  it  has  been  my  ex- 
perience as  a  man  living  in  the  hotels,  that  the  atmo- 
sphere is  filthy.  You  are  lending  your  influence  to  its 
perpetuation.  Can  you  judge  from  these  immodest 
bills  how  much  immodesty  you  are  to  see  inside? 

There  is  a  kind  of  card-playing  that  prompts  the 
feeling  within  of  getting  something  by  some  other 
means  than  by  toil.  It  arouses  the  spirit  of  gambling. 
If  the  children  are  brought  up  under  the  influence  of 
what  seems  to  you  a  trifling  matter,  you  must  not  com- 
plain if  it  inspires  in  them  a  spirit  that  ultimately  leads 
them  to  a  gambler's  life. 

There  is  a  kind  of  dancing  that  is  wrong  in  itself. 
There  is  no  body  of  men  cleaner  and  purer  than  these 
ministers  gathered  around  me  now,  and  I  will  venture 
to  say  that  you  would  not  allow  any  of  them  to  sit  by 
the  side  of  your  wife  or  your  daughter  in  the  attitude 
that  at  every  ball,  men  whom  you  know  to  be  impure 
are  sure  to  do.  That  you  see  and  make  no  complaint. 
If  one  of  these  ministers  would  do  such  a  thing  you 
would  stop  him  in  rage.  If  you  killed  him,  the  jury 
would  acquit  you,  and  you  know  it. 

A  young  lady  told  me  that  she  danced  with  only 
the  most  respectable  young  men.  She  named  some  of 
them  to  me.  I  took  the  trouble  to  inquire  about  them, 
and  I  found  that  these  young  men  were  among  the 
vilest,  most  lecherous  scoundrels  in  your  city. 


3IO  Mills  Meetings 

I  was  driving  with  one  of  your  young  people  a  short 
time  ago,  and  she  pointed  out  to  me  the  homes  of 
many  of  the  wealthy  citizens,  where  the  young  men 
of  society  live.  I  will  venture  to  say  that  there  is 
hardly  a  young  man  in  these  houses  who  has  not  fre- 
quented some  of  the  vilest  haunts  of  your  city,  and 
whose  associates,  at  times,  are  sickening 

A  Catholic  priest  once  told  me  that  the  secrets  of 
the  confessional  revealed  that  nearly  all  of  the  fallen 
women  went  victims  of  the  round  dance — the  dance  of 
the  balls  that  people  patronize.  [There  was  generous 
applause   at  these  assaults]. 

I  am  glad  you  like  it. 

There  are  kinds  of  amusements  that  are  question- 
able. Never  say  that  I  said  they  were  right.  There 
are  things  that  seem  pure,  but  perhaps  are  not.  If 
there  is  any  doubt  about  it,  do  n't  do  it  It  is  a  sin  to 
do  anything  by  which  your  brother  stumbles,  and  if 
anything  of  this  kind  lays  a  stumbling  block  in  his  way, 
don't  do  it. 

Surrender  first,  and  get  your  instruction  afterward. 
That  one  only  is  safe  who  says  :  "I  have  no  will.  I 
want  what  God  wants."  I  have  heard  people  say  that 
this  was  a  question  for  each  person  to  decide  for  him- 
self. That  is  not  true.  The  judgment  will  be  biased. 
It  must  be  decided  by  the  light  which  God  gives  you. 
There  are  people  who  say  that  a  thing  is  all  right  if 
they  have  Jesus  with  them.  That  is  right  so  far.  If 
the  Lord  Jesus  is  going  to  a  dance  to-night,  and  wants 
me  to  go  along,  I'm  going,  if  it 's  in  hell's  deepest  hole. 
But  let  Him  lead.     Do  n't  go,  dragging  Jesus  after  you. 

I  have  not  told  you  my  own  views  on  these  sub- 
jects, but  I  will  speak  it  out.      I  don't  dance.      I  want 


Memorial  Volume.  311 

to  tell  you  that  I  have  as  much  right  to  as  any  of  you. 
I  have  felt  much  like  it  after  some  of  these  meetings. 
You  may  say  that  I  am  a  minister,  but  ministers  have 
a  right  to  do  what  you  have.  Will  you  relegate  to  any 
one  the  right  to  be  a  higher  example  in  anything  than 
you  ?  I  am  ashamed  to  say  that  I  know  about  these 
things  to-night  from  past  experience.  Rather  now 
than  do  one  of  these  things,  I  would  prefer  to  eat  my 
meals  of  sawdust.  Do  n't  try  to  see  how  little  and 
poor  a  Christian  you  can  be,  but  see  how  big  a  one  you 
can  be. 

Then  there  is  exercise.  The  converted  man  always 
joins  the  church.  I  have  heard  some  men  say  that 
some  men  can  get  along  without  the  church.  I  don't 
believe  that  any  man  can.  You  want  to  join  the  church 
that  God  sends  you,  that  needs  you  the  most,  where 
you  can  do  the  most  good.  Get  where  they  are  saving 
souls.  Join  the  church  ;  don't  join  the  meeting-house  ; 
do  n't  join  the  minister.  I  have  known  some  men  who 
joined  the  evangelist.  You  can  not  lean  on  these  things  ; 
you  can  lean  on  the  church.  Join  it  for  eternity.  Where 
did  we  get  the  idea  of  going  to  eternity  on  a  train  ? 
Some  of  us  want  easy  berths,  cushioned  seats,  and 
when  we  get  to  the  gates  Peter  is  to  be  there  to  wake  us 
up  and  call  us  out  to  change  cars.  The  idea  is  wrong. 
There  is  no  such  train.  We  must  march  on,  and  bring 
others  with  us. 

Now,  I  want  to  say  something  for  those  who  have 
come  into  the  kingdom.  My  brother  and  I  shall  go 
away  blessing  you  to-night.  We  feel  like  saying  that 
we  could  not  love  people  more  on  earth  to-night  than 
we  do  these  people  we  have  worked  with.  We  are 
going  away  joyful  for  the  good  that  has  come.      We 


312  Mills  Meetings 

are  going  away  sorrowing  for  those  who  have  not  come. 
We  thank  you  for  your  prayers,  your  kindness,  your 
money,  and  for  everything  you  have  done,  and  we  say 
that  we  have  been  seeking  not  yours,  but  you. 

I  want  to  say  something  for  those  who  have  not 
come  in. 

Must  you  be  left  out  ?  Shall  you  go  out  of  that 
door  and  say,  '  *  I  am  not  saved  ?  "  In  the  eleventh  hour 
will  you  not  come  in  ?  Men  have  said  that  the  day 
after  these  meetings  closed  they  will  be  Christians.  At 
Germantown  a  young  man  went  out  of  our  meetings 
saying  this,  and  the  next  day  he  went  skating  and  was 
drowned.  In  his  pocket  was  found  one  of  these  cards, 
"I  desire  henceforth  to  lead  a  Christian  life."  Beside 
it  was  a  sharpened  lead-pencil ;  but  the  card  was  un- 
signed. I  want  to  ask  you  for  the  last  time,  those  who 
will  try  to  lead  a  Christian  life,  whether  you  have 
signed  the  card  or  not  ?  I  want  them  to  rise  while  I  ask 
blessing  and  pronounce  benediction. 


At  the  close  of  the  preaching  service,  Mr.  Mills 
retired  from  the  platform,  and  Dr.  G.  K.  Morris,  of  St. 
Paul's  M.  E.  Church,  took  charge  of  the  remaining 
exercises,  which  were  all  of  a  farewell  nature.  Rev.  J. 
W.  Simpson,  D.  D.,  the  chairman  of  the  Executive 
Committee,  to  whom  this  duty  naturally  fell,  was  not 
able  to  assume  the  responsibilities  of  the  post,  on  ac- 
count of  a  very  severe  cold. 

Dr.  Morris  said:  "I  have  been  asked  to  say  a 
few  words  before  introducing  the  gentlemen  who  are  to 
speak  the  appropriate  farewell  words.  We  have  by 
this  movement  snatched  from  the  hand  of  the  devil  his 
most  effective  weapon.     More  people  have  been  kept 


Memorial  Volume.  313 

out  of  the  church  by  the  slander  that  the  church  does 
not  care  for  the  masses  than  in  any  other  way.  But 
the  spectacle  of  seventy  five  ministers  of  differing  de- 
nominations working  heartily  together  for  the  one  pur- 
pose of  reaching  the  masses,  effectually  answers  that 
argument.  I  wish  to  say  that  our  churches  are  just 
as  open  to  the  people  as  Music  Hall,  and  we  desire  to 
have  the  people  pour  in.  We  want  you  to  come  from 
the  factories,  from  the  homes,  from  the  hills,  and  from 
the  slums.  You  are  all  welcome.  We  will  take  care 
of  you." 

Rev.  G.  R.  Robbins  said :  ' '  This  audience  may  be 
described  as  a  great  pendulum  vibrating  between  a 
smile  and  a  tear.  I  have  four  acknowledgments  to 
make  to  Mr.  Mills :  Acknowledgment  number  i — you 
have  been  a  blessing  to  me ;  acknowledgment  num- 
ber 2 — you  have  been  a  blessing  to  my  church  ;  acknowl- 
edgment number  3 — you  have  been  a  blessing  to  our 
Baptist  denomination,  for  we  are  numerically  larger, 
financially  stronger,  and  spiritually  better  than  before 
your  advent;  acknowledgment  number  4 — our  round 
globe  has  been  rolled  nearer  the  cross  by  your  efforts. 
You  have  the  city  ;  you  have  gained  the  heads  and 
hearts  of  thousands  of  our  people.  We  shall  miss  you, 
but  may  you  go  on  your  way  rejoicing." 

Dr.  J,  Pearson:  "The  worst  thing  that  has  ever 
been  said  of  Cincinnati  was  in  reference  to  the  coward- 
ice of  her  Christian  people.  That  wretched  paralysis 
which  says,  "You  can  't  do  it,"  in  the  face  of  a  call  to 
crush  some  great  evil,  has  made  us  crawl  before  the 
devil  and  beg  his  pardon.  We  have  the  town.  This 
city  to-night  has  a  heart  for  God  and  righteousness 
opened  up  to  the  world,  when  the  world  had  supposed 


314  Mills  Meetings 

that  she  did  not  have  any.  It  may  be  that  this  spirit  will 
take  us  to  the  polls  and  primaries,  and  give  us  power 
to  tear  down  the  bills  that  indicate  what  nasty  things 
are  going  on  in  our  city  theaters  on  a  night  like  this." 

Rev.  John  Oetjen  :  "I  speak  for  the  Germans  who 
have  been  engaged  in  this  movement.  We  are  exceed- 
ingly glad  that  Mr.  Mills  used  such  plain  language  that 
his  message  was  very  plain  to  us.  He  preached  a  plain 
Gospel,  and  the  Germans  could  understand  it.  We  are 
glad  that  he  has  laid  so  much  stress  upon  the  outpour- 
ing of  the  Holy  Spirit.  We  are  also  exceedingly  glad 
that  the  large  choir  was  organized.  We  Germans  are 
singers,  and  we  love  music.  We  especially  enjoy  sing- 
ing when  we  understand  what  is  being  sung.  [Applause.  ] 
We  are  glad  that  the  voice  of  song  has  been  heard  for 
the  Gospel,  and  feel  especially  grateful  to  Mr.  Green- 
wood."    [Applause]. 

Dr.  Morris:  "This  would  have  been  a  sad  occa- 
sion if  only  ministers  were  heard.  We  save  ourselves 
by  introducing  our  eloquent  laymen." 

Mr.  W.  T.  Perkins  :  "  I  feel  very  much  like  a  little 
boy  who  was  taken  sick,  and  the  doctor  asked  him  how 
he  felt.  '  Well,  doctor,  I  feel  a  good  deal  bigger  in- 
side than  I  do  outside. '  I  have  a  great  deal  more  in 
me  to  say  than  I  have  time  or  language  in  which  to 
express  it.  It  does  not  take  a  business  man  a  moment 
to  decide  whether  a  proposition  is  a  safe  one  or  not.  I 
believe  that  the  thousands  of  business  men  sense  the 
Mills'  movement  as  one  that  elevates  morality  and 
promotes  orderly  living.  We  are  to-night  in  a  hall 
that  has  been  consecrated  to  mechanical  arts  and  to 
song.  To-day  we  have  added  to  these  consecrations 
that  richer  and  brighter  consecration,  the  consecration 


- 

I«* 

^ 

KK\'.   P.   ROHKKTSO.X. 

'astor  ol"  Mohawk  Presbj-lerian  Chapel. 


RKV.  J.   K.   r.AILKY. 

i'aslur  of  (Jrace    Melhodi.>-t    Protcsl:uU 
Clnu-ch. 


REA'.  J.   \V.  SHORT]':X. 

Pastnr  of   MrMickcn  M.  K    Clliurrh. 


REV.  S.  B.  TOniOXS. 

Pastnr  of  Plvmouth  t'oiigregatioiial  (liiirrh. 


Memorial  Volume.  315 

to  that  pure  and  undefiled  religion  of  Jesus  Christ. 
Henceforth  as  we  sit  in  this  hall  we  shall  hear  the  echo 
of  the  sweet  gospel  songs.  In  coming  years  thou- 
sands shall  look  back  to  this  sacred  place  and  say,  '  Lo 
it  was  there  that  I  was  born  into  the  Kingdom  of 
Jesus  Christ.' 

"I  know  that  you  wish  to  push  forward  to  shake 
hands  with  these  brothers,  but  you  can  not  on  account 
of  your  number,  so  I  will  ask  you  to  shake  your 
handkerchiefs." 

The  audience  here  gave  the  Chautauqua  salute  by 
waving  handkerchiefs,  and  no  more  beautiful  sight 
could  be  imagined.  The  vast  auditorium  was  filled 
with  fluttering  handkerchiefs,  which  hid  for  a  moment 
the  faces  of  the  congregation.  This  salute  was  prema- 
ture, and  was  repeated  with  great  accompanying  ap- 
plause at  the  close  of  the  meeting.  The  following  reso- 
lutions were  then  read  by  Rev.  E.  K.  Bell,  on  behalf 
of  the  Christian  workers  : 

PARTING    RESOLUTIONS. 

"  Resolved,  That  we,  the  people  of  Cincinnati,  assembled 
in  Music  Hall,  Sabbath  evening,  March  6,  take  this  oppor- 
tunity of  testifying  that  priceless  blessings  have  come  to  us 
through  the  noble,  whole-hearted  and  conspicuoiislj'  unselfish 
labors  of  Rev.  B.  Fay  Mills  and  Mr.  Lawrence  T.  Greenwood. 
Through  their  winsome  and  powerful  presentations  of  the 
Gospel,  both  in  sermon  and  song,  we  have  seen  Christians 
revived  and  lifted  to  higher  planes  of  duty  and  service,  and 
have,  with  hearts  thrilling  with  joy,  beheld  thousands  coming 
to  Christ.  For  a  quickened  church  and  a  deepened  consecra- 
tion, for  the  moral  tone  which  has  been  added  to  the  city's 
life — above  all,  for  multitudes  redeemed  by  the  blood  of  the 
Son  of  God — we  do  offer  to  our  brothers  the  tribute  of  our 
sincerest  love;  and  to  God  the  glorj-.     We  heartily  bid  them 


3i6  Mills  Meetings 

God  speed ;  will  pray  for  their  greatest  usefulness  in  the 
Master's  service,  and  will  try  to  prove  our  gratitude  by  a 
greater  loyalty  to  Him  whose  we  are,  and  whom  we  serve. 

"  We  can  not,  dear  friends,  allow  this  magnificent  meet- 
ing, the  fitting  ending  of  the  most  spiritual  movement  ever 
undertaken  and  carried  forward  in  our  city,  to  come  to  a  close 
without  expressing  our  profound  gratitude,  first  of  all  for  the 
faithful  and  efiicient  service  rendered  by  our  splendid  choir. 
Their  coming  together  night  after  night  for  weeks,  and  in 
many  cases  at  great  personal  sacrifice,  to  sing  the  Gospel  into 
human  hearts  has  deeply  moved  us,  and  we  are  sure  that  it 
has  impressed  upon  the  entire  city  the  fact  that  the  finest 
chorus  choir  ever  gathered  in  Cincinnati  has  been  gathered 
for  a  distinctively  Christian  purpose,  and  for  the  advance- 
ment of  the  cause  of  God  in  the  salvation  of  men.  May  the 
joy  of  Christ  abide  in  them  richly,  helping  them  to  continue 
their  blessed  service  of  sacred  song  until  they  are  called  to 
take  part  in  the  yet  grander  praise  around  God's  throne. 

"  Not  less  deep  and  hearty  is  our  gratitude  for  the  noble 
and  valuable  services  of  our  faithful  ushers.  Their  chief  has 
been  enthusiastic  and  thoroughly  efiicient ;  his  associates 
have  shown  capacity,  earnestness  and  devotion,  while  all 
have  exhibited  such  consecration,  loyalty  to  Christ  and  pas- 
sion for  souls,  the  results  of  which  eternity  alone  can  reveal. 
On  them  we  invoke  the  benediction  of  Heaven,  and  pray  that 
until  life's  latest  hour  they  may  be  wise  and  successful  in 
winning  souls  for  Christ. 

"  Nor  can  we  allow  this  occasion  to  pass  without  ex- 
pressing our  deep  appreciation  of  the  interest  the  business 
men  of  our  citj^  have  taken  in  these  meetings,  and  especially 
the  consideration  shown  the  request  to  observe  a  midweek 
Sabbath,  on  which  day  over  three  thousand  business  places 
were  closed,  that  employes  might  have  an  opportunity  to 
attend  divine  services.  We  believe  that  the  Lord  will  be 
pleased  to  bless  such  public  recognition  of  the  work  of  Divine 
grace  in  our  city,  and  abundantly  reward  them  that  do  him 
honor. 


Memorial  Volume.  317 

"  We  desire,  also,  to  make  grateful  mention  of  the  assist- 
ance we  have  received  in  this  work  from  the  press  of  our 
city,  both  religious  and  secular.  The  power  of  the  press  we 
gladly  acknowledge,  and  we  are  confident  that  the  extended 
reports,  in  some  cases  remarkable  for  their  accuracy,  have 
contributed  much  to  the  success  of  these  meetings.  The 
service  of  the  press  we  shall  remember  with  pleasure,  and 
shall  also  cherish  the  hope  that  in  coming  days  the  press  of 
this  city  will  prove  a  faithful  ally  of  all  our  forces  that  work 
for  God  and  righteousness. 

"  To  all  others,  whether  as  individuals,  committees  or 
corporations,  who  have  extended  a  helping  hand  and  have 
given  practical  expression  of  sympathy  and  cooperation,  we 
return  our  sincere  and  hearty  thanks,  and  believe  that  these 
helpers  in  the  work  will  receive  a  hundred  fold  of  compensa- 
tion for  kindness  shown  or  ser\'ice  given. 

"  J.  W.  Simpson,  for  Committee. 
"  E.  K.  Bell,  for  the  Pastors." 

These  resolutions  were  passed  by  a  rising  vote 
accompanied  with  a  second  demostration  with  handker- 
chiefs. Mr.  Mills  then  called  upon  Mr.  Greenwood  to 
say  a  few  words  in  response  to  what  had  been  said, 
adding  that  Mr.  Greenwood  was  as  good  a  talker  as  he 
was  a  singer,  which  was  saying  a  good  deal. 

Mr.  Greenwood  stepped  to  the  edge  of  the  stage 
and  told  a  story  of  two  children,  the  one  the  mother's 
pet,  the  other  the  neglected.  The  latter  was  coming  up 
the  steps  one  day  when  the  door  was  closed,  and  the 
mother,  thinking  it  was  the  loved  otie,  said  :  "Is  that 
you,  darling?"  The  little  one  answered :  "  No,  mam- 
ma, it's  only  me."  Among  all  these  shining  lights, 
my  friends,  I  feel  like  saying,  '  It  is  only  me.'  I  con- 
fess I  was  a  little  frightened  when  I  first  came  in  here. 
It  looked  so  far  back  to  those  seats.  I  was  reminded 
of  the  farmer  who  came  to  the  place,  and  one  of  your 


3i8  Mills  Meetings 

citizens,  after  showing  him  the  place  from  all  points, 
took  him  to  the  gallery.  On  looking  it  all  over  the 
farmer  said:  '  My,  my,  what  a  barn  this  would  make!' 
But  since  then  I  have  seen  clear  across  it,  and  it  do  n't 
seem  far.  It  has  grown  upon  me.  My  heart  aches  to- 
night as  T  leave  this  place,  for  while  I  rejoice  at  what 
has  been  done,  I  grieve  at  what  might  have  been  done 
and  we  have  been  unable  to  do.  I  believe  that  this 
has  been  one  of  the  greatest  blessings,  that  while  this 
great  city  can  get  up  great  choruses,  you  can  get  them 
up  to  sing  for  the  glory  of  God." 

Mr.  Mills:  "  I  am  sure  that  I  am  among  you  as  one 
that  serveth.  I  told  the  choir  that  if  they  would  be 
patient  they  might  have  a  chance  to  see  my  face,  and 
you  can  see  the  back  of  my  head  [turning  to  choir]. 
I  can  tell  you  something  that  you  will  want  to  know. 
I  don't  expect  to  hear  any  better  singing  until  I  stand 
in  Heaven  and  my  own  lips  are  unloosed.  Mr.  Green 
wood  said,  last  night,  '  There  will  be  no  preachers  in 
Heaven,'  but  there  will  be  one  thing  that  will  go,  and 
that  will  be  the  singing.  I  thank  God  that  the  time 
will  come  when  I  too  shall  join  the  choir.  God  bless 
you,  friends,  and  may  God  be  with  you  until  we  meet 
again. 

"And  now,  friends,  some  one  has  said  it  is  hard  to 
say  good  bye.  It  is  hard  to  part.  It  is  not  hard  to  say 
good  by  (God  be  with  you).  I  want  to  ask  that 
the  last  thing  that  has  a  touch  of  dross  in  it  in 
this  work  be  burned  up  to-night.  Let  the  Lord 
say  to  you.  Well  done.  But  remember  that  He  will 
not  say  it  unless  the  work  is  done  v/ell.  My  God, 
if  it  be  thy  will,  let  me  stay  that  I  may  bring  some 
soul  to  the  Lord  Jesus.      Good  by.      May  God  be  with 


PRICE    HILL 


—  vittws.^ 


Memorial  Volume.  319 

you  till  we  meet  again.     Let  us  sing  it  to  one  another, 
Number  74." 

With  the  singing  of  this  beautiful  song,  "God  be 
with  You  till  We  Meet  Again,  "  the  revival  under  the 
auspices  of  Mr.  Mills  and  Mr.  Greenwood  came  to  a 
close  ;  but  in  the  hearts  of  all  was  the  deep  conviction 
that  it  was  in  the  holiest  sense  of  the  word  a  commence 
ment,  the  ending  of  which  shall  only  be  seen  when- 
all  are  gathered  before  the  Master's  throne,  singing  the 
hallelujahs  of  eternal  song. 


SERVICE  ON  PRICE  HILL. 

On  Sunday  morning,  February  21,  the  only  service 
for  the  united  churches  on  Price  Hill  was  held  by  Mr. 
Mills  and  Mr.  Greenwood,  in  the  Westminter  Presby- 
terian Church,  Rev.  Harley  J.  Steward,  D.  D. ,  pastor. 
There  were  present  on  the  platform.  Rev.  M.  Quaile,  of 
the  Storrs  Congregational  Church  ;  Rev.  P.  C.  Curnick, 
of  the  Price  Hill  M.  E.  Church  ;  Rev.  S.  B.  Timmons,  of 
the  Plymouth  Congregational  Church  ;  Rev.  J.  J.  Fran- 
cis, D.  D.;  and  Rev.  H.  J.  Steward,  D.  D.,  the  pastor. 
The  fine  church,  which  Mr.  Mills  said  was  admirably 
adapted  for  such  a  service,  was  filled  with  a  great  au- 
dience of  about  nine  hundred  people,  representing  the 
leading  families  of  this  cultured  suburb.  Mr.  Mills 
preached  from  the  text,  "One  thing  thou  lackest," 
and  the  effect  of  the  service  was  impressive  and  lasting. 
This  church  has  not  been  so  near  to  the  great  revival 
services  as  many  others,  but  the  spirit  of  revival  has 
been  felt,  and  the  church  was  never  so  revived  and 
hopeful  as  at  the  present  time.  Additions  are  being 
made  to  the  membership  at  almost  every  service,  and 


320  Mills   Meetings 

the  people  reached  are  of  such  a  character  that  the 
additions  are  a  permanent  gain  to  the  Church  of  Christ. 
At  the  service  held  by  Mr.  Mills,  not  less  than  seventy- 
five  persons  rose  for  prayers. 


REV.  J.   H.   WALKICK,   I).  1). 

Pastor  of   Collese    Hill    I'resbyteria 
fhurc  h. 


\V.  C.   PAVNK. 

Pastor  of   Kersjiis   Sln-i-t  Clirivliaii  Cliurrli. 


RP:\\    ]•:.    R.    WAUM'.K. 
r    of  St.    Paul's    I.iith'ran    Church. 


RRV.  P.  C.  Cl'R.MLK. 
Pastor  of  Price    Hill    M.   !•:.  C:hurch 


INCIDENTS   OF  THE  REVIVAL. 


Said  a  prominent  electric  light  man  to  one  of  the 
editors  :  "Incandescence  is  the  only  word  that  will  de- 
scribe the  spirit  of  this  work.  Incandescence — a  steady- 
glow — lighting  up  many  difficult  points  in  theology 
and  holy  living." 


One  of  the  most  beautiful  incidents  in  the  revival 
occurred  during  the  service  at  the  Bethel.  Mr.  Mills, 
turning  to  H.  Thane  Miller,  said : 

"Mr.  Miller,  can  a  blind  man  see  Christ?" 

The  kindly  face  was  aglow  with  the  inward  sight  of 
the  beauty  of  the  Christ,  as  he  said  : 

"  Indeed  he  can." 


One  of  the  most  remarkable  conversions  was  that 
of  a  gripman  on  the  Martin  cable.  For  years  he  had 
been  addicted  to  the  use  of  great  profanity.  One 
evening  he  rose  for  prayers  ;  that  night  Mr.  Mills  spent 
until  midnight  praying  with  him.  A  day  or  two  later 
he  spoke  at  the  noon-day  prayer-meeting,  and  gave 
one  of  the  best  testimonies  of  the  power  of  Christ  to 
save  given  during  the  revival. 


"The  man  who  said,  'The  mills  of  the  gods  grind 
slowly,'  did  not  know  all  the  Mills."— W.  T.  Perkins, 
at  the  banquet. 


On    Friday,    1 1    a.    m.  ,    at   the   First    Presbyterian 
Church,  a  meeting  was  held  to  consider  the  best  means 


321 


322  Mills  Meetings 

of  continuing  this  work.  The  church  was  filled.  The 
remarks  made  and  advice  given  are  practically  compre- 
hended in  the  report  of  the  Ministers'  Meeting. 


"  Have  you  enjoyed  the  service  ?  "  said  an  usher  to 
a  young  woman  in  hearing  of  one  of  the  editors. 

"Enjoy  it!  Why,  have  n't  you  heard?  John  has 
come  to  Christ." 

A  little  inquiry  developed  the  fact  that  John  was 
her  husband,  who  had  been  a  dissipated  man,  and  has 
been  giving  her  a  good  deal  of  cause  for  fear.  Thou- 
sands of  incidents  of  this  nature  could  be  found  where 
mothers,  sisters,  brothers,  fathers  rejoiced  over  the  sal- 
vation of  some  loved  one ;  and  the  end  is  not  yet. 


It  was  impressive  from  whatever  point  seen,  but 
nothing  so  impressed  the  onlooker  with  the  sense  of  the 
greatness  of  the  work  as  the  presence  of  the  pastors  on 
the  platform  ;  fifty  to  seventy  men  of  polish  and  power, 
culture  and  grasp  of  the  things  of  life,  all  moving  in 
perfect  harmony  toward  the  one  end — the  salvation  of 
men. 


At  the  service  held  on  Sunday  evening,  February 
28,  Mr.  Mills  read  from  a  slip  of  newspaper  the  Gov- 
ernor's proclamation  in  regard  to  Prussian  sufferers. 
Commenting  on  it,  he  said:  "  Here  there  are  twenty 
million  starving  people  :  let  us  help  them.  We  have 
never  known  what  famine  means  in  this  country. 
Strong  men  there  who  have  to  die  because  they  have 
nothing  to  eat.  There  has  been  no  collection  taken  up 
from  any  of  these  meetings,  but  for  this  cause  let  us  be 
generous.        Our   compassion  will  be  the   test  of  the 


Memorial  Volume.  323 

judgment  day.  If  you  can  give  five  dollars  without 
hurting  you,  give  ten  dollars  and  let  it  hurt  you.  Let 
the  ushers  go  ahead  with  the  collection  and  use  their 
hats.  If  there  is  one  who  has  no  hat,  let  him  borrow 
one  and  be  sure  to  return  it.  Let  us  give  heartily  and 
liberally." 

Four  hundred  and  eleven  dollars  were  raised  and 
sent  to  Washington. 

One  woman,  in  testifying,  said  that  she  had  lived 
near  enough  to  a  church  to  curse  her.  She  meant  that 
she  had  had  many  opportunities  to  come,  and  had 
neglected  them.     This  time  she  came. 


The  great  choir  had  their  pictures  taken.  Mr. 
Bellsmith  made  every  effort  to  get  a  good  picture,  and 
succeeded  as  well  as  possible  under  the  circumstances. 
It  does  not  do  them  justice  ;  only  a  phonograph  could, 
and  that  would  not  give  the  tier  upon  tier  of  earnest 
faces. 


Ushers'  Banquet. 

The  consecrated  men  who  served  as  ushers  will 
never  be  forgotten,  although  they  may  not  receive  the 
credit  due  them  ;  at  least  not  on  this  side  of  the  river. 
This  feature  of  Mr.  Mills'  work  is  peculiar  to  him 
alone,  and  is  repeated  in  every  city  where  he  works. 
In  some  places  the  ushers  form  a  permanent  organiza- 
tion. At  the  suggestion  of  Mr.  Mills,  ushers  of  other 
cities  were  invited  to  this  city  on  the  opening  night, 
and  a  banquet  was  given  Monday,  February  22nd,  by 
the  ushers,  which  was  also  participated  in  by   ushers 


324  Mills  Meetings 

from  other  cities,  who  were  invited  to  be  present.  All 
the  ushers  present  had  at  some  time  or  other  worked 
in  union  meetings  conducted  by  the  Rev.  B.  Fay 
Mills. 

Mr.  Sanders,  Grand  Chief  Usher,  after  a  brief 
address,  in  which  he  said  that  he  believed  the  persons 
titled  ushers  should  be  consecrated  men,  and  that  he 
hoped  and  believed  that  every  one  present  was  fully 
consecrated  to  the  service  of  God,  turned  the  meeting 
over  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  J.  W.  Simpson,  chairman  of  the 
Executive  Committee  of  the  Mills  Meetings,  President 
of  the  Evangelical  Alliance,  and  also  chairman  of  the 
Usher's  Committee  of  the  Walnut  Hills  District. 

Mr.  Mills  remarked,  "This  is  Bishop  Simpson," 
which  was  greeted  with  applause. 

Dr.  Simpson  :  ' '  We  can  do  nothing  without  we  have 
Bro.  Greenwood  at  our  side.  Somehow  we  can  not  do 
without  him.  Bro.  Greenwood,  come  right  forward. 
Now,  dear  friends,  I  think  the  first  thing  we  want  to 
do  is  to  sing  four  lines  of  the  grandest  song  we  have 
ever  had ;  we  want  to  sing  the  Doxology,  and  after  that 
Dr.  Morris  will  lead  us  in  a  brief  prayer." 

After  singing  the  Doxology,  Dr.  George  K.  Morris 
prayed  as  follows : 

"We  thank  Thee,  our  Father,  for  the  great  meet- 
ing of  to-night,  in  the  memory  of  which  we  are  rejoic- 
ing, and  in  the  memory  of  which  for  all  eternity  we 
shall  rejoice.  We  thank  Thee  for  this  meeting  as  Thy 
seal  upon  the  efforts  of  Christian  people  in  this  city,  in 
their  efforts  to  unite  as  one  church,  in  one  spirit,  for 
one  purpose.  We  can  never  again  go  back  to  the  old 
way.  We  thank  Thee  for  this  work,  work  for  which 
all  Mr.  Mills'  life  has  been  preparing  him.     We  thank 


Memorial  Volume.  325 

Thee  for  all  the  silent  teachings  Thou  hast  given  him. 
But  we  thank  Thee  yet  more  for  this  great  meeting  as 
the  promise  of  harvests  to  be  gathered  on  the  morrow, 
and  the  days  to  follow,  and  the  not  near  future.  God 
grant  to  bless  all  who  have  had  any  part  in  it,  all  who 
rejoice  in  it,  and  all  to  whom  its  remotest  influences 
will  come.  But  just  now  we  pray  Thy  blessing 
upon  the  consecrated  men  who  have  turned  aside  from 
their  business,  and  given  their  time  to  serve  Christ. 
May  they  at  this  time  find  themselves  nearer  to  Christ 
than  they  have  ever  been,  and  may  they  be  just  a  little 
closer  to-morrow,  and  may  all  the  world  know  it  and 
see  it  and  hear  it. 

"  And,  we  thank  Thee  for  the  members  from  other 
places.      We  pray  that  God  may  get  closer  to  them. 

"Now,  in  what  follows,  preside,  and  send  us  away 
with  Thy  rich  blessing  through  all  time  and  all  eternity, 
for  Thy  name's  sake.  Amen." 

After  a  song.  Dr.  Simpson  got  upon  a  chair  and 
spoke  as  follows : 

"I  want  to  tell  you  to-night  how  glad  I  am  ;  that 
this  is  one  of  the  happiest  hours  of  my  life,  and  in  my 
experience  the  close  of  the  greatest  day  I  have  ever 
known.  And  I  want  to  say  to  friends  from  other  cities, 
how  glad  we  are  to  see  them,  and  that  we  welcome 
them  with  all  our  hearts.  [Applause.]  We  are  glad  to 
have  you  here,  and  we  are  glad  for  this  illustration  of 
the  power  of  the  Gospel  of  Jesus  Christ  to  take  selfish- 
ness out  of  our  hearts.  I  want  to  say  to-night  that  I 
welcome  you  not  only  with  all  my  heart,  but  in  the 
name,  I  think,  of  the  handsomest  set  of  men  I  ever  knew. 
[Applause.]  And  if  you  do  not  believe  it,  just  look 
around.   [Applause.]  And  not  only  that,  but  I  welcome 


326  Mills  Meetings 

you  in  the  name  of  consecrated  men.  It  is  a  good 
thing  to  welcome  you  in  the  name  of  men,  but  it  is 
something  infinitely  better  to  welcome  you  in  the 
name  of  consecrated  men. 

"In  the  name  of  these  dear  brothers,  who  are 
leading  us  in  this  blessed  work,  we  give  you  the  great- 
est, best,  heartiest  welcome  we  possibly  can,  and  we 
hope  you  will  go  back  to  your  homes  with  the  pleasant- 
est  remembrance  of  your  visit  to  Cincinnati. 

"We  have  an  example  here  of  what  the  religion 
of  Jesus  Christ  can  do  for  a  business  man,  and  we  have 
here  the  great  big,  big  business  man  from  Elizabeth, 
N.  J.,  Mr.  Timms." 

Speeches  were  made  by  the  following:  Mr.  Timms, 
of  Elizabeth,  N.  J.,  a  businessman  ;  Mr.  A.  Hunt,  of 
Terre  Haute,  Ind.,  a  florist;  Mr.  Rooney,  railroad 
man,  Terre  Haute,  Ind.;  Mr.  Brown,  editor  of  the 
Raim's  Horn,  of  Indianapolis.  Mr.  August  S.  Crane, 
editor  of  the  Daily  Journal,  of  Elizabeth,  N.  J.,  was 
with  Mr.  Timms,  but  did  not  speak. 

In  all  the  speeches  the  spirit  of  the  prayer  by  Dr. 
Morris  and  of  the  .speech  of  introduction  by  Dr. 
Simpson  was  most  forcibly  expressed.  In  fact,  all 
seemed  to  think  it  good  to  be  united. 

There  were  other  strangers  present  whose  names 
were  not  obtained. 


Mills'  Farewell  Banquet. 

A  banquet  was  given  by  the  ministers  uniting  in 
the  Mills  Meetings  to  the  Rev.  B.  Fay  Mills  and  L.  B. 
Greenwood,  Saturday  evening,  March  5th,  1892,  at 
the  Gibson  House.     Laymen  were   also  cordially  in- 


Memorial  Volume.  327 

vited,  and  numbers  came.  There  were  two  hundred 
and  sixty-eight  present.  The  Rev.  J.  Pearson,  D.  D.,  of 
Mt.  Auburn  led  in  prayer,  after  which  Mr.  Greenwood 
led  in  singing  "I  am  the  Child  of  a  King,"  which 
was  greeted  with  great  applause. 

After  the  substantial  had  been  disposed  of.  Dr.  J. 
W.  Simpson  took  charge  of  the  exercises,  and  after  a 
very  pleasant  address,  announced  that  five-minute 
speeches  were  in  order.  He  then  introduced  the  Rev. 
G.  R.  Robbins,  pastor  of  the  Lincoln  Park  Baptist 
Church,  who  spoke  on  the  topic,  ' '  Fellowship  in  this 
Movement. " 

The  next  introduced  was  Dr.  Wm.  McKibbin, 
pastor  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Walnut 
Hills.  He  took  as  a  topic,  "  The  Unifying  Power  of 
this  Revival." 

Dr.  Simpson  remarked  that  he  had  great  pleasure 
in  announcing  that  a  representative  of  a  church  which 
was  born  in  a  revival  would  speak,  and  introduced  Dr. 
George  K.  Morris,  pastor  of  the  St.  Paul's  M.  E. 
Church.  His  topic  was,  ' '  Some  of  the  Benefits  of 
Organization." 

Dr.  J.  Z.  Tyler,  pastor  of  the  Central  Christian 
Church,  a  denomination  that  has  been  about  as  com- 
pletely immersed  in  the  Spirit  as  could  be,  and  that  is 
Christian  by  spirit,  profession  and  name,  spoke 
on  "Some  of  the  Results,"  and  began  with  the  quota- 
tion, "The  Lord  hath  done  great  things  for  us,  whereof 
we  are  glad." 

Dr.  Simpson  next  introduced  the  Bell  of  Cincinnati, 
Dr.  E.  K.  Bell,  pastor  of  the  First  English  Lutheran 
Church.  His  topic,  "What  of  the  Future?"  was  ably 
handled.      Amongf   other   thing's  he  said:  "There  are 


328  Mills  Meetings 

two  things  I  think  make  the  future  look  bright  to  the 
churches  to-night.  First,  we  have  a  revived  church  ; 
and  second,  we  enter  the  work  with  a  hopeful  min- 
istry." 

The  next  to  speak  was  the  composer  of  ' '  Though 
Your  Sins  be  as  Scarlet,"  Mr.  W.  H.  Doane,  of  Mt. 
Auburn,  on  "The  Revival  in  the  Sunday-schools." 

Mr.  William  Hubbell  Fisher  next  spoke  a  few  min- 
utes, after  which  one-minute  speeches  were  in  order  on 
the  general  subject  of  what  each  individual  considered 
the  "Most  Characteristic  Feature  of  the  Work." 

The  names  of  the  one-minute  speakers  were  as  fol- 
lows :  Dr.  D.  J.  Starr,  Jno.  B.  P^artin,  Rev.  D.  C. 
Washburne,  Dr.  H.  J.  Steward,  W.  T.  Perkins,  Dr.  S. 
McChesney,  Dr.  Taylor,  Dr.  J.  J.  Francis,  Rev.  P.  C. 
Curnick,  Dr.  T.  Pearson,  Dr.  J.  W.  Simpson. 

The  Rev.  Geo.  K.  Morris,  D.  D.,  moved  that  word 
be  sent  to  Dr.  Keen  that  he  was  remembered  at  the 
banquet.      Carried. 

Dr.  Simpson  suggested  sending  a  grateful  greeting 
to  Dr.  Chapman  and  Mr.  Stebbins,  and  it  was  moved 
by  Dr.  Francis  that  the  chairman  be  directed  to  send 
the  greeting  of  this  body  to  Dr.  Chapman  and  Mr. 
Stebbins  either  by  telegraph  or  letter,  and  express  to 
them  our  affectionate  remembrance  of  their  faithful 
services. 

Dr.  Simpson  then  requested  Dr.  Geo.  K.  Morris 
to  read  the  resolutions,  which  were  adopted  unani- 
mously. 

Mr.  Mills  got  upon  a  chair  to  speak,  and  held  out 
his  arm,  and  it  was  quite  amusing  to  notice  that  Dr. 
Simpson,  who  was  standing  on  the  floor  by  his  side, 
could  not  pass  under  it.      Space  alone  prohibits  giving 


Memorial  Volume.  329 

his  speech,  which  was  interesting  in  the  highest  de- 
gree. 

Mr.  Greenwood  was  next  called  on  for  a  speech, 
and  responded  most  heartily.  Among  other  things  he 
remarked  that  there  is  no  record  of  a  preacher  having 
any  place  in  heaven  ;  there  is  not  a  preacher  there  ; 
they  are  all  singers  !  On  one  occasion,  at  the  creation, 
we  are  told  that  "the  morning  stars  sang  together ;" 
none  of  them  preached.  And  there  is  another  time 
when  there  is  no  record  of  a  preacher,  and  that  is  when 
the  heavenly  Babe  was  born ;  when  the  heavenly  host 
sang.  It  was  all  singing.  Also  when  the  disciples 
went  out  to  the  Mount  of  Olives,  they  sang,  and  Jesus 
sang  too.  I  would  rather  be  a  singer  than  anything 
else  in  the  world — except — a  preacher. 

After  these  speeches  Mr.  Mills  excused  himself, 
saying  that  he  had  not  been  able  to  get  to  sleep  until 
after  two  o'clock  for  a  good  many  nights. 


As  illustrating  his  youthful  appearance,  Mr.  Mills  in 
his  banquet  speech  told  the  following:  "  On  one  oc- 
casion I  went  to  preach  in  a  school-house  in  Vermont. 
When  I  arrived,  there  was  only  one  old  lady  there.  I 
went  forward  and  took  the  seat  on  the  platform.  By 
and  by,  as  the  people  began  to  come  in,  I  saw  the  old 
lady  eyeing  me  uneasily,  and  at  last  she  tiptoed  up  to 
me,  and  said  in  aloud  whisper,  "Bub,  that's  the  minis- 
ter's chair." 


Referring  to  the  sootiness  of  Cincinnati,  in  his 
speech  at  the  banquet,  Mr.  Mills  said :  "One  thing  I 
am  sure  of  about  this  city  of  yours.  They  were  bury- 
ing a  man  out  west,   without  a  funeral  service.     No 


330  Mills  Meetings 

one  had  anything  to  say  about  the  dead  man,  and  yet 
they  all  seemed  to  feel  that  something  ought  to  be 
said,  and  at  last  one  man  said  solemnly,  '  He  vas  a 
good  scHMOKER. '  So  far  as  I  know,  Cincinnati  leads  the 
world  in  this  respect. " 


During  the  meetings  on  Walnut  Hills,  a  gentleman 
called  to  spend  the  evening  with  a  young  lady  acquaint- 
ance, both  of  them  belonging  to  the  best  society.  He 
found  the  lady  prepared  to  go  out.  She  told  him  he 
would  have  to  excuse  her,  as  she  was  going  to  the  re- 
vival service.  The  gentleman,  who  was  inclined  to 
make  light  of  religious  matters,  attempted  to  banter 
her  on  '"going  to  church,"  but  she  quietly  repeated 
her  request  to  be  excused.  He  then  laughingly  sug- 
gested that  he  might  go  along  with  her,  as  though  it 
would  be  a  very  absurd  thing.  She  replied  that  she 
would  be  pleased  to  have  him  do  so.  They  accord- 
ingly went  together,  the  gentleman  in  rather  a  scoffing 
mood.  The  result  was  that  the  truth  as  it  was  preached 
that  night  reached  his  heart,  and  at  the  close  of  the 
sermon  this  man  was  the  first  in  the  house  to  rise  for 
prayers,  and  has  since  then  come  out  upon  the  side  of 
Christ. 


In  a  letter  to  the  editors,  Mr.  William  Mendenhall, 
among  other  thing,  says  : 

"It  has  fallen  to  my  lot  to  have  been  close  to 
Brother  Mills  in  emergencies,  and  in  the  manifold  de- 
tails of  his  evangelistic  labors.  He  seemed  always  to 
have  still  greater  resources  unused.  No  detail  was 
overlooked.  Mr.  Mills  was  master  of  the  situation  at 
every  turn   of  the  road.  His  shrewdness,   ability,  avail- 


Memorial  Volume.  331 

ability,  and  his  estimate  of  the  value  of  every  service 
rendered,  however  small,  were  remarkable.  He  never 
underestimated  any  service  rendered.  I  soon  learned, 
however,  that  suggestions  from  myself  and  others 
were  oftentimes  hindrances  instead  of  helps.  Mr. 
Mills  knows  always  what  he  wants,  and  if  those  who 
serve  him  hereafter  will  but  do  this,  they  will  find 
plenty  to  do.  He  wants  so  much  done  that  he  has 
but  little  time  to  give  explanations,  or  to  answer  why 
and  wherefore  is  this." 


A  Specimen  of  the  Spirit's  Work. 

The  following  letter  was  written  by  one  of  the  con- 
verts, to  a  gentleman  on  Walnut  Hills,  with  whom  he 
had  been  at  variance,  and  against  whom  he  had  brought 
a  suit,  which  was  pending.  The  letter  and  canceled 
judgment  will  explain  themselves : 

U.  S. Office. 

Feb.  28,  1892. 

Dfar  Sir,  (or  shall  I  say  Dear  Brother?) — On  last  Satur- 
da}'  I  was  seeking  Christ.  I  heard  your  voice  (although  I 
saw  not  your  face)  raised  in  prayer  and  thanksgiving  to  Oio' 
Father.  And  now  that  Father  commands  me  to  write  this 
letter.  If  I  have  ever  had  a  bitter  feeling  against  you,  I  ask 
5'our  forgiveness,  as  I  trust  Our  Father  has  already  forgiven 
me. 

As  for  the  little  debt.  I  care  not  whether  you  ever  pay  it 
or  not.  You  may  consider  this  a  receipt  in  full.  On  Satur- 
day night  I  received  that  wonderful  mysterious  baptism 
which  transforms  us.  I  am  one  day  old  in  Christ's  Kingdom. 
I  know  yoH  will  welcome  me  as  hundreds  have  already  wel- 
comed. All  I  have  and  all  I  am  is  His.  Thanks  be  unto 
Him  for  all  his  goodness  and  mercy  If  I  should  spend  a 
week  in  writing  I  could  not  tell  you  the  half  He  has  done  for 


332  Mills  Meetings 

me  in  this  07ie  day.  If  I  had  the  note  here  I  would  send  it 
to  you;  but  I  have  not  got  it,  and  God  did  not  put  it  into 
my  heart  to  write  this  until  after  I  left  home. 

But  I  am  going  at  once  to  the  squire's  oflSce  and  have 
that  judgment  canceled.     I  remain 

Yours  in  Jesus, 


God  moves  me  to  add  that  I  shall  say  that  I  shall  be  glad 
to  shake  your  hand  and  look  into  your  eyes,  seeing  there  the 
light  of  God's  glory,  as  I  trust  j'ou  foAy  see  in  mine. 


Civil  Action 


vs  \  Before  W.  F.  Gass,  J.  P. 

Docket  G,  No.  4. 


The  judgment  in  the  above  entitled  action  in   favor  of 
plaintiff  is  hereby  satisfied  in  full. 


Sentences  from   Mr.   Mills'  Last  Sermon. 

"The  Bible  is  God's  prepared  food  for  his  children. 
You  will  be  starvelings  without  it." 

' '  Most  of  the  things  which  people  call  questiotiable 
are  wrong ^ 

"  What  you  need  as  Christians  is  a  baptism  of  back- 
bone— to  stand  up  against  Cincinnati's  aivjiil  desecra- 
tion of  the  Lord's  day." 

"  If  you  have  any  doubt  about  it,  do  n't  do  it.'' 

"  It  is  a  sm  to  do  anything  by  which  your  brother 
stumbleth. " 

"Surrender  first,  and  get  your  information  after- 
wards. Do  n't  say,  '  Lord  tell  me  what  you  want,  and 
I  will  think  about  it,'  but  say,  '  Lord,  /want  what  you 
want. 


Memorial  Volume.  333 

"People  sometimes  say,  'I  don't  go  anywhere 
where  I  can't  take  Jesus  with  me.'  I  don't  believe  in 
that.  You  let  Jesus  go,  and  then  you  go  along. 
Do  n't  try  to  drag  him  with  you  wherever  you  want 
togo." 

"I  don't  dance." 

"  Do  not  try  to  see  how  small  d.  Christian  you  can 
be,  but  how  noble  and  grand  and  good  a  specimen  of 
what  the  grace  of  God  can  make  a  man." 

"  A  converted  man  always  joins  the  church.  I  want 
the  reporters  to  get  that,  so  I  repeat  it — a  converted 
man  always  joins  the  church." 

"  If  you  can  get  along  without  the  church  here^  you 
can  get  along  without  the  church  in  eternity.'' 

"Join  the  church — not  the  meeting-house,  nor  the 
pastor,  nor  the  evangelist,  but  the  church." 

"  Some  people  want  to  go  to  heaven  on  a  through 
train,  and  some  want  to  get  in  a  sleeping  car.^' 

"  We  have  been  seeking  not  yours,  but  you." 

"  We  would  rather  have  these  ten  thousand  souls, 
who  have  expressed  a  desire  to  become  Christians, 
than  all  the  wealth  of  Cincinnati." 


A  prominent  man  on  Walnut  Hills  gives  this  inci- 
dent:  "My  daughter.  Marguerite,  signed  a  card.  When 
her  teacher  in  the  Sunday-school  asked  her  why  she, 
being  a  church-member,  signed  her  card,  she  said  :  '  I 
joined  the  church  with  my  sister,  but  now  I  want  to 
join  it  by  myself,  and  I  want  to  be  consecrated  to  God's 
service.'  " 


HISTORICAL    SKKTCH 

OF 

The  Evangelical  Alliance  and  Ministerial 
Association  of  Cincinnati. 


By  D.  J.  Starr,  D.  D. 


The  history  of  the  great  religious  movement,  which 
will  be  properly  known  as  the  Mills'  Meetings,  would 
not  be  quite  complete  without  some  further  statement 
concerning  the  organization  which  brought  Mr.  Mills 
to  Cincinnati,  and  under  the  auspices  of  which  these 
meetings  were  held. 

That  organization  is  known  as  the  Evangelical  Alli- 
ance and  Ministerial  Association  of  Cincinnati,  and  is 
composed  of  such  ministers  of  Cincinnati  and  vicinity 
as  subscribe  to  its  constitution,  which  includes  a  doctrinal 
basis. 

It  has  been  the  lifetime  of  a  generation  since  this 
organization  was  formed  and  started  upon  its  eventful 
career.  Its  founders  and  most  active  members  were 
men  known  to  fame,  and  beloved  in  Christian  circles  of 
wide  extent.  The  late  Bishop  D.  W.  Clark,  D.  D.,  was 
its  early  president,  and  the  eminent  Rev.  W.  K.  Harri- 
son. D.  D. ,  its  first  secretary.  Their  associates  in- 
cluded the  late  Bishop  Calvin  Kingsley,  D.  D. ,  Rev. 
W.  C.  McCune,  Rev.  R.  K.  Maltby,  Rev.  C.  B.  Boyn- 
ton,   D.    D.,   Rev.    W.   Nast,   D.    D.,   Rev.    Granville 


Memorial  Volume,  335 

Moody,  D.  D.,  Rev.  C.  L.  Robinson,  Rev.  Dr.  Ayde- 
lotte.  Bishop  J.  M.  Walden,  D.  D.,  Rev.  Dr.  Mon- 
f©rt,  the  professors  of  Lane  Seminary  and  the  Cincin- 
nati Wesleyan  College,  and  the  resident  pastors  in 
general.  In  late  years  Rev.  Dr.  Thomas  Lee  and  Rev. 
Dr.  A.  Ritchie  have  rendered  valuable  service  as  secre- 
taries, while  a  long  and  changing  line  of  presidents 
find  a  successor  in  Rev.  Dr.  J.  W.  Simpson,  the  pres- 
ent incumbent. 

Amongst  the  eminent  men  who  have  been  active 
workers  in  the  Association  are  to  be  included  the  Rev. 
Bishop  Wm.  X.  Ninde,  D.  D.,  Rev.  Bishop  L.  M. 
Merrill,  D.  D.,  the  late  Rev.  Bishop  Wiley,  D.  D., 
Rev.  Rueben  Jeffrey,  D.  D.,  Rev.  W.  T.  Moore, 
D.  D.,  Rev.  C.  M.  Briggs,  D.  D.,  Rev.  R.  S.  Rust, 
D.  D.,  Rev.  F.  L.  Hoyt,  D.  D.,  Rev.  R.  M.  Hatfield, 
Bishop  Joyce,  D.  D.,  Rev.  Earl  Cranscon,  D.  D.,  Rev. 
D.  H.  Moore,  D.  D.,  Rev.  A.  B.  Leonard,  D.  D., 
Rev.  Mr.  Brauns,  Rev.  Dr.  Lasher,  Dr.  Ridge  way, 
Rev.  Dr.  Taylor,  and  Revs.  Dr.  VanCleve,  Leavett, 
H.  D.  Mysore,  Dr.  Morrell,  Geo.  Beecher,  Scott, 
Helwig,  Ketcham,  Leonard,  and  other  ministers  rep- 
resenting the  Methodist  Episcopal,  Baptist,  Protes- 
tant Episcopal,  Old  School,  New  School,  United  and 
Reformed  Presbyterian,  Congregational,  Lutheran, 
German  Reformed,  and  Protestant  Methodist,  United 
Brethren  and  Christian  denominations. 

The  present  members  are  too  well  known  to  be 
named. 

Well  do  I  remember  with  what  veneration  these 
eminent  heralds  of  the  cross  were  looked  upon  by 
their  junior  brethren,  as  during  the  dark  days  of  the 
Rebellion   they  met  in  regular  sessions  in  this  border 


336  Mills  Meetings 

city,  to  consider  the  most  difficult  problems  of  patriot- 
ism, morals  and  theology.  This  body,  soon  after  its 
organization,  appointed  a  committee  to  provide  a  doc- 
trinal basis,  to  which  all  might  agree.  At  the  May 
meeting  in  1861,  Rev.  W.  C.  McCune,  Rev.  Calvin 
Kingsley,  and  Rev.  W.  H.  Harrison  were  constituted 
for  that  purpose. 

After  two  months'  labor,  they  submitted  their  re- 
port. Every  item  of  this  Basis  was  carefully  and 
ably  discussed,  until  at  the  May  meeting  in  1863, 
thirty-five  ministers  voting.  Bishop  Clark  in  the  chair 
and  W.  H.  Harrison,  Secretary,  it  was  unanimously 
adopted. 

[This  [TJu  Doctrinal  Basis)  is  too  long  to  give  in 
full.] 

Nine  years  later,  at  a  meeting  of  the  Association, 
the  subject  of  the  constitution  was  considered,  and 
without  rescinding  the  former,  the  following  was  adopt- 
ed, and  is  now  the  Doctrinal  Basis  of  the  Association, 
under  which  the  Mills  Meetings  were  held.  It  will  be 
found  to  contain  a  sufficient  expression  of  doctrine  to 
suit  any  evangelical  church,  and  its  unanimous  adop- 
tion shows  the  unity  of  the  Protestant  churches.  On 
such  a  basis  they  can  all  stand,  and  stand  together. 


CONSTITUTION   OF  THE   EVANGELICAL    MINISTERIAL     ASSO- 
CIATION. 

Adopted  April  8,  1872. 

For  the  purpose  of  promoting  brotherly  regard,  for  a 
full  and  cordial  interchange  of  views  and  experiences,  and 
for  conference  concerning  the  best  methods  of  furthering  the 
cause  of  Christ,  we,  the  undersigned,  adopt  the  following 
Constitution  : 


REV.  G.  FRITZ. 

Pastor  of  United  Brethren  Church. 


RKV.  C.  W.  RISHELI<. 
Faster  of  Ashury  IVI.  K.  Chapel. 


KiiV.  D.  C.  WASHBURN. 
Pastor  of  Columbia  M.  E.  Church. 


'if 


REV.  E.  McHl  GH. 
Pastor  of  McKend.ee  M.  K.  Chapel. 


[Memorial  Volume.  337 

Article  I. — Name. 

This  Association  shall  be  called  "The  Evangelicai, 
Ministerial  Association  of  Cincinnati." 

Article  II. — Membership. 

Every  minister  in  good  and  regular  standing  in  his  own 
denomination  shall  be  recognized  as  a  member  of  this 
Association  upon  his  acceptance  of  the  following  statements 
of  doctrine,  namely : 

I.  "We  believe  that  the  Scriptures  of  the  Old  and  New 
Testaments  are  a  revelation  from  God,  and  that  they  are  the 
only  infallible  rule  of  faith  and  duty  ;  that  there  is  one  living 
and  true  God,  holy,  eternal,  spiritual,  and  immutable ;  that 
in  the  unity  of  the  Godhead,  the  Father,  Son,  and  Holy 
Spirit  are  of  one  nature,  power,  glory,  and  eternity. 

II.  "  We  believe,  therefore,  in  the  Absolute  Deity  of  our 
I/Ord  Jesus  Christ,  and  in  the  Personality  and  Deity  of  the 
Holy  Spirit. 

III.  "  We  believe  in  the  fall  and  corruption  of  human 
nature ;  in  the  vicarious  atonement  <f  our  Saviour  Jesus 
Christ,  as  the  only  ground  of  acceptance  with  God  ;  in  justi- 
fication by  faith ;  in  regeneration  by  the  direct  agency  of  the 
Holy  Ghost ;  and  in  the  sanctification  of  the  soul  by  Divine 
grace. 

IV.  "  We  believe  in  the  perpetuity  of  the  Church  of 
Christ ;  and  that  the  ordinances  of  baptism,  and  the  Lord's 
supper,  and  the  religious  observance  of  the  Lord's  day,  are 
of  Divine  authority  and  of  perpetual  obligation. 

V.  "  We  believe  in  the  future  resurrection,  and  a  general 
judgment ;  in  the  gracious  reward  of  the  righteous,  and  in 
the  just  retribution  of  the  wicked,  and  that  both  are  eternal." 


THE    FINANCES. 


As  stated  vmder  the  head  of  "The  Committee  on 
Finance,"  *  the  matter  of  expenses  was  never  brought 
into  the  public  meetings.  The  financial  affairs  of  the  or- 
ganization were  placed  in  the  hands  of  a  committee  of  ten 
prominent  Christian  business  men,  who  did  their  work 
grandly,  and  whose  efforts  will  always  be  held  in  grate- 
ful remembrance.  It  is  proper  to  state  that  the  appor- 
tionment of  the  funds  needed  among  the  churches  was 
not  made  by  this  committee  in  any  arbitrary  way.  The 
assessment  was  based  upon  the  answers  to  the  ques- 
tions embodied  in  the  following  letter,  which  at  the 
suggestion  of  the  Executive  Committee  was  sent  by 
the  Finance  Committee  to  the  pastor  or  some  well  in- 
formed officer  of  each  church  before  any  definite  steps 
were  taken,  and  more  than  seven  weeks  before  the 
meetings  began.  It  is  also  proper  to  repeat  here,  that 
Mr.  Mills  sustained  no  financial  relation  whatever  to 
this  committee.  He  did  not  receive  a  penny  from  the 
committee,  nor  from  any  other  source  aside  from  the 
"voluntary  offerings"  handed  to  him  by  individuals, 
during  the  last  day  or  two  he  was  in  the  city,  except 
the  payment  of  the  hotel  bills,  which  the  Executive 
Committee  assumed  of  their  own  accord. 

(  Circular  I^etter  from  the  Finance  Committee  ). 

Cincinnati,  December  i,  1891. 
Dear  BroThe;r  :- -The   Finance   Committee  would   be 
glad  of  your  aid  in  securing  information  which   will  enable 

*  See  page  48.  et  seq. 
338 


Memorial  Volume.  339 

them  to  proceed  intelligently  and  fairly  in  raising  funds  for 
meeting  the  current  expen.ses  of  the  Mills  Meetings. 

Will  you  please  answer  the  following  questions,  and  re- 
turn the  same  to  the  secretarj^  of  your  district  ? 

1.  IV/iai  is  the  ?iame  of  your  church,  and  its  location  ? 

2.  The  name  and  address  of  the  pastor  ? 

3.  State  the  membership  of  your  church  ? 

4.  Fs  there  anything  in  the  financial  circjimstances  of 
your  church  at  present  that  should  be  taken  into  special  consid- 
eration, in  connection  with  our  appeal  f 

Your  kind  cooperation  will  greatly  assist  and  oblige  us. 
The  Finance   Committee. 

By  far  the  largest  bill  paid  by  the  committee  was 
for  advertising  and  printing,  this  being,  indeed,  the 
chief  item  of  expense.  We  give  below  a  brief  general 
report  of  the  president  and  treasurer  of  the  Finance 
Committee  up  to  the  day  after  the  meetings  closed, 
furnished  us  for  this  volume. 

Treasurer's  Report. 

loi  West  Pearl  Street, 
Cincinnati,  March  7,  1892. 
Statement  of  the  Financial  Condition  of  the  Mills 
Meetings,  lately  held  in  Cincinnati  : 

In  accordance  with  Mr.  Mills'  wishes,  the  Finance  Com- 
mittee, after  due  canvass  of  the  churches  taking  part  in  the 
movement,  made  an  assessment  according  to  their  respective 
membership,  of  the  sum  of  $5,285.00,  of  which  $3,506.04  has 
been  collected,  leaving  a  balance  uncollected  of  $1,778.96. 
Bills  amounting  to  $3,185.99  have  been  paid,  leaving  a  bal- 
ance of  $320.05  on  hand.  The  estimate  of  expenses  not  y^t 
paid  amounts  to  about  $2,395.00.     The  expected  income  or 


340  Mills  Meetings 

assessments  to  meet  these  expenses  consists  of  the  uncol- 
lected assessments  amounting  to  $1,778.90,  the  cash  on  hand 
of  $320.05,  and  the  guarantee  fund  subscribed  March  5th  of 
about  $790.00,  making  in  all  about  $2,888.95.  This  would 
leave  a  surplus  of  $493.95,  which  will,  no  doubt,  cover  shrink- 
age on  assessments. 

It  will  therefore  be  seen  that  the  financial  condition,  as 
well  as  the  spiritual,  is  beyond  all  expectation,  for  all  of 
which  we  are  thankful.     Yours  very  truly, 

Louis  Manss,  Treas., 
loi  West  Pearl  St.,  Cincinnati,  O. 
Archer  Brown,  Pres  't  Finance  Committee, 
Third  and  Walnut. 

STATEMENT. 

Original  Assessment ;j!5' 285.00 

Guarantee  Fund  (about) 790.00 

Total  estimated  income $6,075.00 

Total  estimated  expenses 5,581.00 

Surplus — to  allow  for  slirinkage $     494.00 

Russian  Famine  Collection. 

The  Treasurer,  Mr.  Manss,  also  sends  us  the  follow- 
ing note: 

Dear  Brother: — I  wish  to  add  that  if  you  wish  to  add 
the  collection  of  $418.26,  taken  for  the  Russian  famine  suf- 
ferers, which  I  sent  to  the  committee  in  Washington,  D.  C, 
and  who  have  acknowledged  the  receipt  this  morning,  you 
can  do  so.  The  collection  was  taken  Sabbath  evening,  Feb- 
ruary ?8,  1892.  Yours  truly, 

March  7,  1892,  Louis  Manss. 


RESULTS  — PRESENT  AND 
PROSPECTIVE. 


By  Rev.  William  McKibbin,  D.  D. 


The  results  of  a  movement  which  has  enHsted  in  its 
service  so  many  elements  of  church  and  social  power, 
and  has  poured  itself  into  so  many  and  varied  channels 
of  human  life,  can  only  be  fairly  measured  after  the 
lapse  of  years,  and  only  fully  measured  in  eternity. 

Those  who  have  been  actors  in  it  Vv'ill  be  tempted 
to  emphasize  as  its  greatest  blessings  those  near  at 
hand  and  immediately  visible,  while  those  who  come 
after  may  regard  these  as  the  least  of  the  benefits  it  has 
brought  to  the  cause  of  Christ  in  this  region.  For  the 
present  quickening  of  the  church  and  enlargement  of 
her  borders  has  been  not  only  a  harvest,  but  a  seed- 
time ;  not  merely  a  culmination,  but  a  new  beginning. 
While  old  truths  have  been  given  a  great  victory,  new 
ways  of  enforcing  and  applying  them  have  been  brought 
to  light,  and  fresh  stimulus  imparted  to  those  who  are 
laboring  to  "take  away  the  stone"  which  closes  the 
access  of  the  life-giving  Christ  to  the  multitudes  in  our 
city  who  are  "dead  in  trespasses  and  sins  " 

That  there  has  been  a  marked  change  in  the  tone 
and  courage  of  the  churches  which  must  largely  affect 
the  future  of  the  kingdom  in  our  midst,  is  apparent. 

Apprehension  has  given  way  to  strong  expecta- 
tions ;  doubts  have  vanished  before  a  buoyant  faith,  a 


342  Mills  Meetings 

sense  of  weakness  has  been  changed  into  a  conscious- 
ness of  power,  and  a  defensive  attitude  exchanged  for 
a  bold  and  aggressive  one,  and  in  and  through  it  all 
"the  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ"  has  been  "mag- 
nified." 

The  results  in  the  present  are  already  great,  and  if 
the  lessons  and  opportunities  which  have  come  with 
them  are  faithfully  improved,  "greater  things  than 
these  "  shall  surely  follow. 

The  work  has  been  a  ivide  one.  This  is  true, 
whether  judged  by  the  actual  numbers  reached,  or  by 
the  different  classes  and  conditions  of  society  from  which 
they  have  been  gathered.  The  signing  of  over  eight 
thousand  cards  by  those  desiring  to  lead  a  Christian 
life,  is  itself  a  most  remarkable  evidence  of  its  ex- 
tent. But  as  a  matter  of  fact,  in  that  number  were 
represented  every  stratum  of  society.  The  young  and 
old,  the  reputable  and  disreputable,  the  ignorant  and 
the  learned,  the  rich  and  the  poor,  the  black  man  as 
well  as  the  white  man,  stood  up  together  to  confess 
their  sins  and  accept  the  grace  of  God  in  Jesus  Christ. 
The  gospel  has  again  disclosed  its  congeniality  to 
the  universal  soul  of  man,  and  leaping  over  all 
natural  and  artificial  barriers  of  society,  has  created 
a  sense  of  brotherhood  in  Jesus  Christ  among  mul- 
titudes. It  has  shown  this  to  be  the  true  and  only 
solution  of  the  alienations,  bitterness  and  jealousies 
which  threaten  the  existence  and  progress  of  con- 
stitutional freedom,  and  which  have  led  many  to  look 
with  apprehension  to  the  future  of  our  country.  These 
last  weeks,  as  they  have  seen  banded  together  all 
ranks  and  conditions  in  one  great  rescue  work  in 
behalf  of  all  ranks  and  conditions,   have  demonstrated 


Memorial  Volume.  343 

anew  that  in  Christ  "  there  is  neither  Jew  nor  Greek, 
there  is  neither  bond  nor  free,  there  is  neither  male 
nor  female;  for  ye  are  all  one  in  Christ  Jesus"  (Gal. 
iii.  23). 

The  outward  breadth  of  this  awakening  is  only- 
commensurate  with  and  to  be  explained  by  its  breadth 
among  the  churches  themselves.  Upwards  of  seventy- 
five  congregations  entered  into  a  solemn  agreement  to 
act  as  one  great  army  in  accordance  with  a  plan  formu- 
lated after  years  of  experience  by  Mr.  Mills,  and  which, 
while  its  requirements  were  exacting  and  almost 
minute,  looked  to  and  alone  rendered  possible  a  single, 
steady,  united  advance  upon  the  enemy  all  along  the 
line. 

To  still  deal  in  military  figures,  the  first  division  to 
go  into  action  was  composed  of  the  churches  of  Walnut 
Hills,  and  the  arm  of  the  Lord  was  bared  to  give  them 
victory.  Then  followed  the  churches  of  the  Mt. 
Auburn  and  Covington  Districts,  under  the  double  lead- 
ership of  Dr.  Chapman  and  Mr.  Mills ;  then  under  the 
same  leadership  followed  the  churches  of  the  two  dis- 
tricts in  the  heart  of  the  city.  Then,  the  work  having 
meanwhile  gone  forward  contemporaneously  in  all  the 
districts,  came  the  great  rally  of  all  the  churches  in 
Music  Hall,  from  which,  in  some  instances,  thousands 
were  turned  away  for  lack  of  room. 

I  venture  to  say  that  no  body  of  people  representing 
so  many  diversities  of  taste  and  method,  and  so  many 
classes  and  conditions,  were  ever  held  together  for  so 
long  a  period,  and  subjected  to  so  great  demands  upon 
strength  and  time,  with  less  friction,  than  have  been  the 
ministers  and  members  of  the  Churches  of  Christ  who 
have  participated    in  this  effort  to  evangelize  our  city. 


344  Mills  Meetings 

The  work  has  been  a  tJioroiigh  one.  No  superficial 
result  has  been  sought,  and  no  questionable  means  em- 
ployed. The  consciences  of  sinners  have  been  aroused. 
Sin  has  been  exhibited  as  hateful  in  itself  as  well  as 
exposed  to  eternal  pain.  A  complete  surrender  of  the 
soul  to  the  Lordship  of  Christ  has  been  insisted  upon 
as  indispensable  to  the  exercise  of  a  true  saving  faith. 
Professing  Christians  have  been  led  to  a  renewal  of 
their  vows,  and  to  separation  from  the  world.  A  posi- 
tive, uncompromising  adherence  to  Christ  has  been  en- 
forced as  the  only  guarantee  of  a  genuine  discipleship. 
In  a  word,  it  has  been  a  legitimate  fruit  of  the  Gospel 
motives,  viz.,  "the  power  unto  salvation  resident  in 
Jesus  Christ  and  him  crucified."  Appeals  to  emotion 
have  been  appeals  sanctioned  and  disclosed  in  the  Cross. 
Retribution  has  been  faithfully  and  yet  tenderly  set 
forth,  and  so  as  to  inspire  not  merely  alarm,  but  a  proper 
sense  of  sin's  enormity  and  ill-desert.  The  cardinal  and 
regulative  truths  of  the  Gospel  have  been  unflinchingly 
insisted  upon  as  things  to  be  "most  surely  believed" 
unto  the  salvation  of  the  soul.  The  interest,  or  excite- 
ment, if  you  please,  generated  has  been  just  what  the 
Gospel  must  excite  when  believed  with  the  whole 
heart.  Reflection  in  the  privacy  of  the  closet  could 
only  justify  the  decision  reached  in  the  great  congre- 
gation— as  made  upon  adequate  and  more  than  ade- 
quate grounds.  If  there  is  a  reaction,  it  will  be  not 
from  anything  adventitious  or  alien  to  the  spirit  of  the 
Gospel  in  what  our  brethren  have  preached  and  sung, 
but  reaction  from  the  Gospel  itself. 

It  has  demonstrated  the  ample  sufficiency  of  the  Gos- 
pel, when  preached  with  the  power  of  "the  Holy  Ghost 
sent  down  from  heaven,"  to  heal  the  spiritual  hfe  of  the 


REV.  JOHN    I.  BLACKBURN. 

Pastor  of  First  Presbyterian   Church, 
Covinaton. 


REV.  C.  W.  SUTTON. 
Pastor  of  Shinlsle  M    K.  Chapel.  Covington 


R\\\.   I,.   1'.    \()rNG. 
Pustor  of  St.  John  M.  E.  Church. 


REV.  J.  J.    AlCCAiiJ-.. 
Pastor  of  .Mt.  Anhurn  M.  E.  Church. 


/ 


Memorial  Volume,  345 

church,  arouse  her  dormant  energies,  and  to  overcome 
in  the  hearts  of  men  opposition  to  God  and  righteous- 
ness. No  power  but  that  of  the  Gospel  of  Christ  could 
have  held  through  busy  weeks,  day  and  night,  not  only 
the  unabated  but  growing  interest  of  thousands,  multi- 
tudes of  whom  were  "aliens  from  the  commonwealth 
of  Israel,  and  strangers  from  the  covenants  of  promise." 
Christ  and  His  cross  have  been  seen  to  be  God's  wis- 
dom and  power  unto  salvation  in  Cincinnati  as  truly 
as  they  were  in  the  great  cities  of  the  Roman  Empire. 

It  has  expressed  and  largely  ministered  to  the 
maintenance  and  growth  of  a  spirit  of  fraternity  and 
comradeship  among  the  ministers  and  churches,  which 
have  greatly  refreshed  and  strengthened  the  faith  of  all. 
It  has  promoted  that  acquaintanceship,  that  insight,  that 
fellowship,  and  that  love  among  the  brethren,  which 
hand  to  hand  and  shoulder  to  shoulder  work  in  a 
great  cause  can  alone  produce.  It  has  reduced  the 
danger  of  friction  in  the  churches  and  between  them. 
It  has  poured  oil  upon  the  machinery,  and  where  it 
has  not  created  power  has  liberated  it.  It  has  pro- 
duced in  Christian  hearts  in  all  churches  the  conviction 
that  the  unity  of  Christ's  Church  is  a  fact,  and  not  a 
fiction  ;  that  differences,  however  important,  are  small  in 
number  and  worth  compared  with  the  things  in  which 
they  agree.  While  it  will  not  eliminate  denominational 
differences  of  belief  and  practice,  it  will  infuse  into 
them  a  greater  degree  of  the  spirit  of  love,  and  repress 
the  spirit  of  bitterness. 

It  has  demonstrated  the  value  of  organized  and 
federated  effort  in  evangelistic  work,  and  the  boundless 
results  which  may  flow  from  it  when  properly  employed. 
The  masterly  system  of  organization  which  Mr.  Mills 


34^  Mills  Meetings 

had  worked  out  from  practical  experience,  which  was 
accepted  and  operated,  has  opened  the  eyes  of  many 
to  the  vast  importance  of  the  department  of  applied 
gospel  dynamics.  The  system  of  advertisement,  the 
personal  canvass  by  members  of  the  churches  of  each 
of  the  different  districts,  the  midweek  Sabbath,  all  ar- 
rested the  attention  of  church  and  city  to  the  gospel 
message;  and  as  at  Pentecost,  "when  this  was  noised 
abroad,  the  multitude  came  together  and  were  con- 
founded," (marg.,  troubled  in  mind),  and  thousands,  as 
they  l^ard  the  gospel  sung  and  preached,  "were 
pricked  in  their  heart,"  and  "gladly  received"  the 
"word."  Every  legitimate,  and  no  illegitimate,  means 
were  employed  to  noise  abroad  the  work. 

The  church  has  been  awakened  anew  to  the  power 
of  consecrated  song  to  touch  the  human  heart,  and 
especially  to  open  up  a  way  for  the  Gospel  to  the  hearts 
of  the  music  loving  citizens  of  Cincinnati.  It  has  ar- 
rested attention  by  the  great  choir  in  Music  Hall  to  the 
wealth  of  talent  in  this  direction  which  is  waiting  and 
willing  to  be  used  to  win  souls  to  Christ.  When  music 
is  made  a  handmaiden  of  the  Gospel  in  Cincinnati,  and 
the  church  lifts  up  its  prayer,  "Let  the  people  praise 
thee,  O  God  ;  let  all  the  people  praise  thee.  Then 
shall  the  earth  yield  her  increase,  and  God  even  our 
God,  shall  bless  us." 

This  movement  has  changed  very  largely  the  atti- 
tude of  the  Church  of  Christ  in  Cincinnati  toward  the 
world  at  large.  Heretofore  a  spirit  of  despondency 
has  prevailed,  especially  among  the  churches  in  the  lower 
portions  of  the  city,  from  whom  the  exodus  to  the  hills 
has  taken  so  many  of  their  most  helpful  members,  and 
they  have  almost  despaired   of  making  any  large  re- 


Memorial  Volume.  347 

placement  from  the  churchless  and  Christless  multitudes 
about  them.  The  churches,  with  a  few  exceptions,  have 
been  on  the  defensive.  It  is  true,  indeed,  that  a  change 
has  been  apparent  in  the  last  two  or  three  years,  and 
courageous  voices  have  been  lifted  up,  declaring,  "Let 
us  go  up  at  once  and  possess  it ;  for  we  are  well  able  to 
overcome  it;"  but  in  many  hearts  the  conviction  re- 
mained: "We  be  not  able  to  go  up  against  the  peo- 
ple, for  they  are  stronger  than  we."  Confidence, 
however,  grew,  resulting  in  union  services  and  the  pro- 
jection of  more  aggressive  measures.  Out  of  this  came 
the  invitation  to  Mr.  Mills  and  Mr.  Greenwood  to  en- 
gage in  evangelistic  work  here.  By  the  wondrous  man- 
ifestations of  divine  power  which  have  followed,  a  new 
courage  has  come  to  all,  and  a  deep,  devout,  humble, 
grateful  conviction  that  if  the  church  only  "be  strong 
and  of  good  courage,"  she  shall  yet  "divide  for  an  in- 
heritance the  land." 

The  relation  of  the  business  community  to  the  move- 
ment has  disclosed  the  fact  it  is  beginning  to  feel 
that  it  can  not  afford  to  ignore  the  importance  of  moral 
and  spiritual  forces  in  maintaining  the  good  order  and 
prosperity  of  the  city.  The  closing  of  over  three 
thousand  places  of  business  upon  a  week-day  during 
the  hours  of  religious  service,  that  employes  might 
have  an  opportunity  to  attend  ;  the  letter  of  Mayor 
Mosby,  commending  and  advising  such  closing,  were 
most  plain  and  practical  recognitions  from  a  civil  stand- 
point that  "  except  the  Lord  keep  the  city,  the  watch- 
man waketh  but  in  vain."  The  direct  and  indirect 
influence  of  this  expression  can  not  but  be  large  in 
its  bearing  on  the  cause  of  religion  in  our  midst. 
The  tone,  also,   of  the  local  press  has  been  exceedingly 


34^  Mills  Meetings 

friendly.  The  spirit  of  criticism  has  yielded  to  a  real 
sympathy.  All  this  must  mean  that  the  Queen  City 
is  ceasing  her  opposition  to  her  true  King  and 
Spouse. 

The  movement  has  also  demonstrated  the  wisdom  of 
securing  wise  and  cojisecrated  evangelists  to  lead  the 
churches  at  times  in  special  efforts.  When  God  bestows 
gifts  on  his  servants,  there  must  be  a  place  in  which 
they  are  to  be  exercised.  The  church  here  reads  with 
a  new  meaning  and  gratitude,  that  Christ  in  the  nine- 
teenth century  as  well  as  in  the  first  century  gives  to 
his  church  "some  evangelists,"  as  well  as  "some 
pastors  and  teachers,"  and  rejoices  that  Cincinnati  was 
a  field  in  which  their  usefulness  was  most  signally  vin- 
dicated. 

As  we  look  toward  the  future  our  hearts  are  full  of 
hope,  and  yet  burdened  with  a  sense  of  accountability. 
A  church  with  thousands  of  new  recruits  filled  with  a 
newborn  zeal  and  consecration  has  glorious  possibili- 
ties, but  solemn  and  awe-inspiring  responsibilities.  The 
church  feels,  with  God's  help,  able  to  take  Cincinnati 
for  Christ,  Such  an  enlarged  conception  of  its  power 
and  its  field  of  conquest  must  lead  to  enlarged  views 
of  God's  gracious  aid,  and  to  the  necessity  of  a  full  sur- 
render to  the  demands  of  the  work.  It  means  larger 
planning,  larger  working,  larger  giving,  increased 
prayer,  and  a  steady  advance  upon  the  enemy's  ter- 
ritory. 

The  church  imist  take  Cincinnati  for  Christ,  or 
shamefully  disregard  its  duty  and  forget  its  past 
prayers,  past  efforts,  and  its  recent  signal  victories.  The 
question  is  no  longer  one  of  ability,  but  of  willingness. 
May  God  keep    us    from   the    sin    of  Joash,    king  of 


Memorial  Volume.  349 

Israel,  which  kindled  so  the  indignation  of  the  dying 
prophet  EHsha  : 

"  And  he  said,  Take  arrows,  and  he  took  them. 
And  he  said  unto  the  king  of  Israel,  Smite  upon  the 
ground,  and  he  smote  thrice  and  stayed. 

*'  And  the  man  of  God  was  wroth  with  him,  and  said. 
Thou  shouldest  have  smitten  five  or  six  times,  then 
hadst  thou  smitten  Syria  till  thou  hadst  consumed  it ; 
whereas  now  thou  shalt  smite  Syria  but  thrice  "  (II. 
Kings  xiii.  18-19). 


CARD   SIGNATURES. 


The  method  of  distributing  cards  at  the  meetings 
for  the  signatures  of  those  wilhng  to  express  a  desire 
"  to  lead  a  Christian  Hfe  "  is  fully  described  elsewhere. 
(See  pages  jj  and  'j'S). 

These  cards  all  passed  into  the  hands  of  Mr.  Wil- 
liam Mendenhall,  by  whom  they  were  carefully  recorded 
in  a  book.  The  total  number  of  these  cards  was,  upon 
investigation,  considerably  reduced,  by  omitting  from 
the  final  enumeration  all  duplicates,  and  all  names 
which  were  found  to  be  fictitiozis.  The  corrected  list 
contains,  as  given  below,  the  names  of  8,009  persons. 
It  is  proper  to  call  attention  to  the  fact  that  the 
extent  to  which  the  cards  were  used  in  the  different 
churches  varied  greatly.  In  some  churches  and 
Sabbath-schools  the  cards  were  given  to  small  children 
in  the  primary  classes,  while  in  others  they  were  given 
only  to  adults.  They  do  not,  therefore,  afford  any  sure 
criterion  by  which  to  judge  of  the  interest  in  the  vari- 
ous churches.  The  figures  which  are  given  below  in- 
clude, however,  all  the  cards  signed  both  in  the  general 
meetings  and  in  the  Sabbath-schools  and  churches, 
reported  by  Mr.  Mendenhall  for  this  volume.  We  give 
them,  therefore,  upon  his  authority  as  a  matter  of 
interest,  without  which  this  historical  record  would 
scarcely  be  regarded  as  complete.  We  give  them  in 
three  different  classifications:  (i)  by  districts,  (2)  bv 
churches,  and  (3)  by  denominations.     The  figures  given 

in   each    case   are  the   number   of  signers   expressing 
350 


Memorial  Volume. 


351 


their  preference  for  the  church  or  denomination  indi- 
cated. 

I.  CARD  SIGNATURES.— BY  DISTRICTS. 

No.  Cards. 

1.  Walnut  Hills  District 711 

2.  Mt.  Auburn  District 805 

3.  Covington  District 579 

4.  Central  Districts  and  Music  Hall 4,098 

5.  Miscellaneous  of  all  Districts 1,816 

Total 8,009 


II.   CARD  SIGNATURES.— BY  CHURCHES. 


Presbyterian  Churches. 

Walnut  Hills,  First 298 

Sixth  Church 237 

Mt.  Auburn 208 

First 112 

Poplar  Street 169 

North 128 

Fifth 120 

Covington,  First 107 

Westminster 106 

Avondale 90 

Second 102 

Mohawk 92 

Pilgrim  Chapel 76 

Third   73 

Seventh 76 

Delhi,  First 64 

Fourth 48 

Covington,  Madison  Avenue__  43 

Pleasant  Ridge 24 

Clifford  Chapel,    Mt.  Auburn  17 

Central 13 

College  Hill i 

Total   2,377 

Methodist  Episcopal 
Churches. 

Camp  Washington 202 

St.  Paul 178 

Walnut  Hills  M.  E 137 

Mt.  Auburn,  German 119 


Covington,  Union 92 

Mt.  Auburn 87 

Dr.  Pearson  (Presiding  Elder)  84 

York  Street . 85 

Finley 72 

Trinity  * 42 

Asbury 68 

Christie 58 

Pearl  Street 42 

Sixth  Street 41 

Avondale 37 

St.  John 30 

Covington,  Scott  St.  (South)__  27 

Winton  Place 28 

McLean 23 

Covington,  German 22 

McKendree 22 

Covington,  Eleventh  Street 16 

Wright  Chapel 16 

Shinkle  Chapel,  Covington 13 

Covington,  Main  Street    10 

Price  Hill 11 

Ivanhoe 8 

German  M.  E 4 

Columbia 5 

Pleasant  Ridge 2 

Norwood 3 

Total 1,578 

Baptist  Churches. 

Ninth  Street 275 

Lincoln  Park 105 


number 


Trinity   M.    E.   Church   received   twenty-five   cards   not   included  in  this 


352 


Mills  Meetings 


Mt.  Auburn 95 

Walnut  Hills 85 

Covington,  First    79 

First 65 

Immanuel 43 

Dayton  Street 38 

Covington,   Madison   Avenue  15 

N.  J.  Chapin 17 

Total 817 

Congregational  Churches. 

Central 204 

Columbia 65 

Storrs 72 

Walnut  Hills 55 

Total 396 

Christian    Churches. 

Central - loi 

Covington,  Fifth  Street 37 

Walnut  Hills 34 

Fergus  Street 35 

Richmond  Street 27 

Ccvington,  Fourth  Street 10 

Total 244 

Lutheran  Churches. 

First  English 177 

St.  John's 30 

Walnut  Hills 23 

German 3 

St.  Paul's 2 

Total 235 


Protestant  Episcopal 
Churches. 

Church  of  the  Advent 17 

Church  of  the  Epiphany 6 

St.  Paul's 8 

Christ's 23 

Church  of  our  Saviour 23 

Covington II 

Bishop  Vincent 6 

Grace  Episcopal 3 

Calvary  Episcopal 2 

Total 91 

Other    Denominations. 

One  Union  Bethel  Church 114 

One  United  Brethren  Church  88 

Roman  Catholic  Churches 67 

One     Covenanter     Reformed 

Presbyterian  Church 42 

Grace    Methodist    Protestant 

Church 43 

First  Reformed    Presbyterian 

Church 35 

Quaker  Church  (Friends) 12 

One       United       Presbyterian 

Church 31 

One      Welch       Presbyterian 

Church   25 

Unitarian I 

Universalist 6 

Salem  Reformed  Church 4 

Swedenborgian  Church  . 10 

St.  John's  Church  (Eisenlohr)  32 

Total 510 


III.    CARD   SIGNATURES.— BY   DENOMINATIONS. 

Denomination.  No.  Cards. 

Presbyterian 2,281 

Methodist  Episcopal i>5o8 

Baptist 817 

Congregational 39^ 

Christian 244 

Lutheran 235 

Bethel "4 

United  Brethren 88 

Protestant  Episcopal 9^ 

Roman  Catholic.^, „ ^_^ ^^--^ — , ^      67 


Memorial  Volume.  353 

Covenanter  Reformed  Presbyterian 42 

Methodist  Protestant 43 

Reformed  Presbyterian 35 

United  Presbyterian 3^ 

Quakers ^2 

No  preference 9^6 

Miscellaneous  (not  enumerated) 661 

At  distant  points 208 

Hamilton  County 200 

Swedenborgian. --  ^o 

Universalist " 

Salem  Reformed  Church 4 

Unitarian * 

Total 6,246 

Generals  (Covington) 1 19 

Generals  (all  other  districts) 998 

Miscellaneous  Churches  (including  Newport) 73^ 

Distant  points 208 

Grand  total 8,009 


THE  Second  Presbyterian  Church,  although  without 
a  pastor,  was  among  the  very  active  churches.  The 
church  selected  William  Hubbel  Fisher  to  represent  it. 
The  obligations  were  promptly  met,  and  the  Second 
Presbyterian  Church  has  gone  on  record  for  its  splendid 
response  to  all  calls. 


The  Storrs  Congregational  Church,  and  its  pastor, 
Rev.  Mr.  Quaile,  took  an  active  part  in  the  work, 
although,  the  pastor  having  come  recently,  the  church 
was  not  enrolled  in  the  Manual.  We  regret  that  this 
information  was  not  received  until  the  Manual  in  this 
volume  was  electrotyped,  and  hence  too  late  to  be 
inserted. 


REV.  J.  W.  SIMPSON,  D.  D. 


This  volume  could  not  be  regarded  as  complete,  as 
a  memorial,  without  some  special  reference  to  the  man 
who  stands  at  the  head  of  the  great  organization,  who 
during  the  entire  progress  of  the  work,  was  nearest  to 
Mr.  Mills,  and  who,  by  his  constant  supervision,  his 
unflagging  devotion  and  zeal,  and  his  self-sacrificing 
efforts,  contributed  more  than  any  one  man,  or  probab- 
ly any  dozen  men,  to  the  success  of  the  movement  — 
Rev.  J.  W.  Simpson,  D,  D.,  pastor  of  the  Walnut  Hills 
Congregational  Church,  president  of  the  Evangelical 
Alliance  of  Cincinnati,  and  chairman  of  the  "Mills 
Meetings  Executive  Committee. "  Eminently  qualified 
in  every  respect  for  the  important  work  which  was 
providentially  placed  in  his  hands.  Dr.  Simpson  dis- 
charged every  duty  of  his  responsible  position  in  such 
a  manner  as  not  only  to  command  the  highest  respect 
aud  fullest  confidence,  but  to  win  the  affections  of  all 
the  members  of  the  Executive  Committee,  and  of  the 
entire  organization  of  which  he  was  the  honored  and 
trusted  leader.  And  whilst  all  wish  him  the  very  best 
that  can  come  to  him  of  honor  and  enlarged  usefulness 
in  the  Master's  service,  it  will  be  a  matter  of  genuine 
regret  to  his  brethren  of  all  denominations  in  this  city, 
and  to  the  entire  Christian  community,  if  his  sense  of 
duty  should  lead  him  to  yield  to  the  urgent  calls  which 
he  is  receiving  to  remove  to  another  and  distant  field 
of  labor.  But  if  such  should  be  the  case,  he  will  be 
followed  by  the  good  wishes  and  prayers  of  a  multitude 
of  people  who  have  learned  to  know  him  best  and  love 
him  most  during  the  great  revival  of  Cincinnati. 


354 


Satisfied. 

"I  shall  be  satisfied  when  1  wake  with  ihy  likeness."— Ps.  17:15. 

HORATIUS  BONAR.  GEO.  C.  StEBBI.NS. 


:^=t=A: 


1^- 


^■ 


-#-#- 


^ 


1.  When  I  shall  wake  in  that  fair  moruof  morns,  Aft-er  whose  dawning 

2.  When  1  shall  see    thy    glo  -  ry  lace    to  face,  When  in  thine  arms  thou 
3  When  I  shall  meet  with  those  that  I  have  loved,  Clasp  in  my  arms  the 
4.  When  I  shall  gaze  up  -  on  the  face   of    him    Who  died  for  me,  with 


nev  -  er  night  returns,    And  with  whose  glo-ry    day    e  -  ter  -  nal  burns, 
wilt  thy  child  embrace.  When  thou  shall  o  -  pen    all  thy  store  of  grace, 
dearones  long  removed.  And  find  how  faithful  thou   to  me  hast  prov'd, 
eye  no  long  -  er  dim.    And  praise  him  with  the   ev  -  er-last-ing  hymn, 


shall     be     sat 
I  shall     be 
4L     ^     ^     ^ 


is  -  tied, 


When  I    shall  wake  in 

When    I    shall 


:^c=ii= 


r 


^-.e 


iff-^^-Sf-» 


» — » — •- 


S-?-5=^ 


From  Gospel  Hymns  No.  6,  by  permission  of  The  Biglow  &  Main  Co. 


Satisfied.    Concluded. 


sat  -  is-fied, 


When     T  shall  wake  in     that    fair  morn  of     morns. 
When  I  shall 


Where  will  you  Spend  Eternity? 

Sung  by  Mr.  Greenwood.    Taken  from  Crowning  Story  No.  2,  by  permission  of 
Peter  Bilhorn,  owner  of  Copyright. 


HOFFMAN- 


.1.  H.  Tenney. 


r  N-H — — kPH    ■  n    I  ^T^-l 


1.  Where  will  you  spend  e-ter  -  ni  -  ty?  Thisquestion  comes  to  you  and  me  ! 

2.  Ma  -  ny  are  choosing  Christ  to-day,  Turning  from  all  their  sinsa-way  ; 
8.  Leaving  the  strait  and  Jiar-row  way,  Going  the  downward  road  to-day, 

4.  Re  -  pent,  believe,  this  ver-  y  hour.  Trust  in  the  Savior's  grace  and  pow'r. 

■»-     a         -^  '  -m-  ■0-  .       -^9-   -0-  ■0-  ■0--^  '  -^  •0-  -0-  ■0-. 

■? — 0 — I.    .    I,   r  L    !    0-    '  " 


Tell  me,  what  shall  vour  answer  be?  Where  will  you  spend  e-ter  -  ni-ty  ? 
Heav'n  shall  their  happv  7)ortion  be.  Where  will  you  spend  e-ter  -  ni-ty? 
Sad  will  their  fi  -  nal  end-ing  be,— Lost  thro'  a  long  e-ter  -  ni-ty! 
Then  will  your  jov-ous  an  -  swer  be,  Saved  thro'  a  long    e-ter  -  ni-ty  ' 


P 


RKFRAIN. 


li^ 


zt=^ 


>;-4 


i 


-It-sir 


E  -  ter  -ni-ty '  e  -  ter  -  ni  -  tv  '  Where  will  you  spend  e  -  ter  -  ni-ty  ? 
M.  V.  E  -  ter  -  ni  -  ty  !  e  -  ter  -  ni  -  ty  !  Lost  thro'  a  long  e  -  ter-  ni-ty  ! 
«/i.  ■».  E  -  ter  -  ni  -  tv !      e  -  ter  -  ni  -  ty !  Saved  thro' a  long      e-ter-ni-ty! 


THY  GIFT. 


A.N     EASTER     PRELUDE. 


'BtikaUi  fo  Mv.  Mlits  anil  ffir.  <S»riJ«m»ood. 


BY    MARY   M.    BOWEN. 


Lay  not  on  the  Easter  shrine 

Any  empty  measure ; 
Make  each  bloom  a  chalice  fine, 

Brimming  Avith  rare  treasure. 

In  the  offered  blossom's  core 

Set  a  golden  duty, 
Deed  of  love  or  prayer.     Oh,  more 

Such  than  fairest  beauty. 

I  have  dreamed  that  flowers  like  these 

Do  not  waste  nor  wither  ; 
Dreamed,  the  Holy  One  they  please 

Best  doth  bear  them  thither. 

And  about  his  kinglj^  feet 

They  shall  find  them  growing 

Who  his  resurrection  greet 
With  such  fit  bestowing. 

Therefore,  let  these  gifts  of  thine 

Brim  with  holy  treasure  ; 
Lay  not  on  the  Easter  shrine 

Any  empty  measure. 


MANUAL- 


MILLS   MEETINGS 


CINCINNATI,  OHIO 


lanuary  21  to  March  7,  1892 


BY 


Rev.  B.  Ray  IVEills 

Rev.  J.  W.  Chapivian,  D.  D. 

IVtR    IvA^VRE^ICE   B.  Greenwood 
^ND   Js/Lr.  Georoe  C.  Stebbins 


REVISED  AND  REARRANGED  FOR   THIS  VOLUME 


Issued  by  the  Executive  Committee 

OflRce  in  Y.  M.  C.  A.  Building,  N.  W.  Cor.  Seventh  and  Walnut  Streets 


MANUAL  OF  THE  MILLS  MEETINGS. 


PLAN  OF  ORGANIZATION. 


According  to  the  original  plan  of  organization,  the  entire 
field  was  divided  into  five  districts,  as  follows: 

I.  Walnut  Hills  District. 

II.  Mt.  Auburn  District  (with  Avondale  and  Clifton). 

III.  Covington  [Ky.]  District. 

IV.  East  District,  embracing  all  the  city  below  the 
hills  east  of  Elm  street,  together  with  Mt.  Adams. 

V.  West  District,  embracing  all  the  city  west  of  Elm 
street,  including  Price  Hill,  Cumminsville,  and  College  Hill. 

Music  Hall  Meetings,  the  last  two  weeks,  to  combine 
all  the  districts  in  one,  with  a  full  set  of  Central  Committees, 
made  up  of  the  chairmen  of  the  District  Committees,  and 
with  the  singers  and  ushers  from  all  the  districts.  This  plan 
was  strictly  adhered  to  in  all  the  preliminary  work,  until  the 
day  on  which  the  meetings  began  (January  21),  when,  at 
the  suggestion  of  Mr.  Mills,  for  the  sake  of  greater  unity  and 
convenience,  the  East  and  the  West  Districts  (Nos.  4  and  5) 
were  consolidated  under  the  name  of  the  "  United  Central 
District,"  and  the  various  committees  in  these  districts 
were  combined. 

In  order,  however,  to  historical  accuracy,  and  as  a  matter 
of  interest,  in  the  following  manual  the  churches  and  com- 
mittees of  the  East  and  West  Districts  are  indicated  sepa- 
rately ;  although,  during  the  progress  of  the  meetings,  they 
were  united  as  one  district. 

Two  churches  were  added  to  the  East  District,  after  the  in- 
troductory chapter  of  this  book  was  completed,  making  the 
total  number  seventy-three  instead  of  seventy-one,  as  stated 
in  the  opening  paragraph  of  the  first  page, 

3 


Manual  of  the 


LIST  OF  CHURCHES  COOPERATING. 


I.— WALNUT  HILLS  DISTRICT. 


Na/ne  of  Church. 

Name  of  Pastor. 

Address  of  Pastor. 

Baptist 

Christian 

Congregational 

Lutheran 

Methodist  Episcopal 

German,    M.  E 

First  Presbyterian 

Seventh  Presbyterian 

Rev.  W.  E.  Loucks 

Rev.  C.J.  Tannar 

J.  VV.  Simpson,  D.  D 

Rev.  J.  A.  Hall 

S.  McChesney,   D.  D 

Rev.  Louis  Nippert 

Wm.  McKibbin,  D.  D.  ... 
-A..  B.  Riggs,  D.  D . 

855  Gilbert  Avenue. 
143  Ashland  Avenue. 
992  Gilbert  Avenue. 
Mulberry  Steet. 
Ashland  Avenue. 
Hackberry  Street. 
Lane  Seminary  Grounds. 
127  Kleine  Street. 

Name  of  Church. 

Name  of  Pastor. 

Address  of  Pastor. 

Clifton   Presbyterian 

Avondale   Presbyterian 

Mt.  Auburn  Presbyterian.. 
Mt.  Auburn  M.  E. 

E.  L.  Warren,  D.  D 

Rev.  Thos.  O.  Lowe 

Rev.  H.  M.Curtis 

Rev.  J.  J.  McCabe 

Rev.  J.  W.  Peters 

Rev.  E.  A.  Ince 

Evans  Place,  Clifton. 
Main  Avenue  Avondale. 
33  East  Auburn  Avenue. 

Avondale  M.  E 

Mt.  Auburn    Baptist.   

Mt.  Auburn  German  M.  E. . 

Rockdale  Av.  Avondale. 
2  Wellington  Place. 
H14  Vine  Street. 

III.— COVINGTON  DISTRICT. 


Name  of  Church. 

Union  Methodist  Episcopal 

Main  Street  M.  E 

Shinkle  Chapel  Street  M.  E 
Scott  Street  M.  E.  South.. 
Eleventh  St.  M.  E.  South. 
Fourth  Street   Christian... 

Fifth  Street  Christian 

First   Presbyterian 

Madison  Av.  Presbyterian. 


^Name  of  Pastor. 


Address  of  Pastor. 


511  Greenup  Street. 
299  West  Eighth  Street. 


W.  A.  Robinson,  D.  D.... 
Rev.  F.  T.  D.  Bickley.... 

Rev.  C.  W.  Sutton '1824  Garrard  Street. 

Rev.  VV.  T.  Bowling (Covington. 

Rev.  W.  A.  Cooper '30  E.  Robbins  Street. 

Rev.  Walter  S.  Priest ,1125  Scott  Street. 

Elder  W.  .S.   Keene \^  Russell  Street. 

J.  \.   Blackburn,  D.  D ICovington. 

Rev.  W.  H.  Neel.. 170  West  Eleventh  Street. 


IV.  &  v.— UNITED  CENTRAL  DISTRICT. 

[IV. — ORIGINAL   EAST   DISTRICT.] 


Name  of  Church. 


Name  of  Pastor. 


Ninth  Street    Baptist 

First  English  Lutheran j 

First  Presbyterian 

The  Bethel I 

United  Presbyterian I 

Pilgrim   Chapel,  Presbyter.! 

Sixth  Presbyterian 

Fourth   Presbyterian I 

Columbia  Congregational..! 

Central  Congregational ' 

Trinity  Methodist ' 

Pearl  Street  Methodist 

Asbury   Methodist 

Columbia  Methodist 

McKendree  Methodist 1 

Fourth  Christian 

Welch  Presbyterian .| 


Rev.  Johnston  Myers. 

Rev.  \V.  D.  Holt 

E.  K.  Bell,  D.  D 

Rev.  H.  W.  Gilchrist. 
Rev.  J.  A.  Markham  . 
Rev.  J.  A.  Shannon  .. 

Rev.  C.  O.  Shirey 

Rev.  W.  B.  Irwin 


Rev.  W.  H.  Warren.... 

E.  S.  Lewis,  D.  D 

Rev.  D.  J    Starr 

Rev.  C.  W.  Rishell 

Rev.  D.  C.  Washburne. 

Rev.  E.  McHugh 

Rev.  Oscar  Sweeney 

Rev.  J.  H.  Griffiths.... 


Address  of  Pastor. 


No.  I,  Norfolk  Building. 

58  West  Eighth  Street. 

15  Hopkins  Street. 

22  South   Auburn  Avenue. 

The  Bethel. 

829  W.  Ninth  Street. 

Mt.  Adams. 

597  Eastern  Avenue. 


Flat  34,  San   Rafael    Bld'g. 

23  Clark  Street. 

23  Hollister  Ave.,  Mt.  .\u- 

491  Sycamore  St.         [burn. 

Station  C. 

485  Eastern  Avenue. 

Eastern  Avenue 

College  Street.  , 


Mills  Meetings. 


[v. — ORIGINAL    WEST   DISTRICT.] 


Natne  of  Church. 


Plymouth   Congregational. 

Wright  Chapel,  M.  E 

Central  Christian 

Richmond  St.  Christian 

Poplar  St.  Presbyterian 

Lincoln  Park  Baptist 

First  Baptist 

First   Reformed  Presbyter. 

Grace    Methodist    Prot 

Third  Presbyterian 

Westminster  Presbyterian. 

Immanuel    Baptist 

Covenanter  Ref.  Pres 

St.  Paul  M.  E 

Fifth  Presbyterian 

Christie  Chapel  M.  E 

College  Hill  Presbyterian. 

North  Presbyterian 

Price  Hill  M.  E 

York  Street  M.  E 

St.  John  M.  E 

Finley   M.  E 

Mohawk   Presbyterian 

St.  Paul's   Lutheran 

McLean,  Methodist  Epis.. 
Camp  Washington  M.  E... 

Storrs  Congregational 

Second  Presbyterian 

Central  Presbyterian  _■ 

Fergus  Street  Christian 

Dayton  Street  Baptist 

United  Brethren 


Name  of  Pastoi . 


Rev.  S.  B.  Timmons... 

Rev.  J.  W.  Kelley 

J.  Z.  Tyler,  D.  D 

Rev.  F.  B.  Walker 

Rev.  A.  M.  Dawson 

Rev.  G.  R.  Robbins  ... 
Rev.  M.  C.  Lockwood. 

Rev.  D.  McKinney 

Rev.  J.  E.  Bailey 

Rev.  J.  M.  Simonton  .. 
H.J.  Steward,  D.  D  .. 

Rev.  H.  C.  Lyman 

Rev.  J.  C.  Smith 

G.  K.  Morris,  D.  D  ... 

Rev.  F.  Granstaff 

Rev.  M.  LeSourd 

J.  H,  Walker,  D.  D  ... 
Rev,  J.  M.  Anderson.. 
Rev.  P.  C.  Curnick  ... 

Rev.  T.  F.  Cowden 

Rev.  L.  F.  Young 

Rev.  G.  Roughton 

Rev.  P.  Robertson 

Rev.  E,  R.  Wagner  .. 
Rev.  J.  W.  Shorten  ... 
Rev.  J,  W.  Magruder. 


Rev.  W.  C.  Payne. 

Rev.  J.  Patton 

Rev.  G.  Fritz 


Address  of  Pastor. 


Warsaw  Avenue. 

520  Chase  Street. 

352  West  Eighth  Street. 

Hawthorne  Avenue. 

674  Freeman  Avenue. 

250  Everett  Street. 

2  Wesley  Avenue. 

22  Wesley  Avenue. 

355  Richmond  Street. 

510  West  Seventh  Street. 

Price  Hill 

Beech  Hill  Avenue. 

24  South  Auburn    Avenue. 

319  West  Seventh  street. 

386  John  Street. 

35  Wesley  Avenue. 

College  Hill. 

347  Hamilton  Avenue. 

Price  Hill.  \ 

55^  York  Street. 

123  West  Fifth  Street. 

462  Broadway  Street. 

139  Wheeler  Street. 

17  Hopkins  Street. 

391  Baymiller  Street. 

574  Colerain  Avenue. 


Twenty-fifth  Ward 
693  Freeman  Avenue. 
289  Baymiller  Street. 


RECAPITULATION. 

BY  DISTRICTS. 

Churches. 

I.     Walnut  Hills  District 8 

II.     Mt.  Auburn  District 7 

III.     Covington  District 9 

v'    Wpcf  r  U^^*^^^  ^^"^""^^  ■'-^'''"^^'^'^ 1  OT 


Total. 


BY  DENOMINATIONS. 


Churches 

I.  Methodist  Episcopal 20 

II.  Presbyterian 19 

III.  Baptist 7 

IV.  Christian 7 

V.  Congregational- 5 

"VI.  Lutheran 5 

VII.   Meth. Episcopal  (South) _     2 

VIII.  German  Meth.  Episcopal     2 

IX.  Methodist  Protestant  __ _     I 


Churches. 

X.  Presbyterian  (South)  — 

XI.  Reformed  Presbyterian  . 

XII.  Covenanter  Ref.  Presb. - 

XIII.  United  Presbyterian 

XIV.  United  Brethren 

XV.  Bethel 

XVI.  Welch  Presbyterian 

Total 73 


Manual  of  the 

EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE. 


This  is  the  General  Executive  Committee  having  charge  of  the 
entire  movement  from  the  beginning,  in  all  the  Districts,  and  under 
which  all  the  District  and  Central  Committees  operated.  The  office  of 
this  Committee,  supplied  with  stationery  and  all  conveniences,  and  with 
a  stenographer  and  typewriter  in  constant  attendance,  is  in  the  Y.  M.  C. 
A.  Building,  Seventh  and  Walnut  streets. 

EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE. 

Rev.  J.  W.  Simpson,  D.  D.,  Chairman,  992  Gilbert  Avenue. 

Rev.  E.  S.  Lewis,  D.  D.,  vSecretary,  23  Clark  Street. 

Rev,  J.  Z.  Tyler,  D.  D.,  Vice-Chairman,  352  West  Eighth  Street. 

Rev.  J.  M,  Anderson,  347  Hamilton  Pike  (25th  Ward). 

Rev.  E.  K.  Bell,  D.  D.,  15  Hopkins  Street. 

Rev.  W.  a.  Cooper,  30  East  Robbins  Street,  Covington. 

Rev,  H,  M.  Curtis,  ^^  East  Auburn  Avenue. 

Rev.  J.  J.  Francis,  D.  D.,  61  Mound  Street. 

Rev.  H.  W.  Gilchrist,  22  South  Auburn  Avenue. 

Rev.  W.  D.  Holt,  58  West  Eighth  Street. 

George  T.  Howser,  Y.  M.  C.  A.  Building,  City. 

Rev.  G,  K.  Morris,  D.  D.,  319  West  Seventh  Street. 

Rev.  J.  Pearson,  D.  D.,  i  i  McCormick  Place,  Mt.  Auburn. 

Rev.  a.  Ritchie,  D.  D.,  176  Elm  Street. 

Rev,  W.  a.  Robinson,  D.  D.,511  Greenup,  Covington. 

Rev.  H.  J.  Steward,  D.  D.,  Price  Hill. 

Rev.  W.  H.  Warren,  Vice-Chairman,  Flat  34,  San  Rafael  Building, 

ADVrSORY     COMMITrEE. 

Rev.  G.  W.  Lasher,  D.  D.,  Editor  "Journal  and  Messenger." 
Rev.  D.  H.  Moore,  D.  D.,  Editor  "Western  Christian  Advocate." 
Rev.  R.  S.  Rust,  LL.  D.,  Hon.  Sec.  Freedinen's  Aid  Society, 
Rev.  F.  C.  Monfort,  D.  D.,  Editor  "Herald  and  Presbyter." 
Rev.  Bishop  J.  M.  Walden,  LL.  D.,  Bishop  of  the  M.  E.  Church. 
Rev.  E.  D.  Morris,  D.  D.,  Professor,  Lane  Theological  .Seminary. 
Russell  Errett,  Edi  or  "The  Christian  Standard.' 

Mr.  George  Elmer  Malsbary,  Official  Stenographer  and  Typewriter 
of  the  ExeciUive  Committee ;  Office,  Y.  M.  C.  A,  Building. 


Mills  Meetings. 

GENERAL  COiVlMITTEES. 


[These  General  Committees,  made  up  of  the  chairmen  of  the  Dis- 
trict Committees,  exercised  a  general  supervision  over  the  Districts,  and 
had  sole  charge  of  the  work  in  connection  with  the  final  series  of  serv- 
ices for  the  whole  city,  in  Music  Hall.  The  Finance  Committe  of  ten 
acted  as  one  Committee  throughout,  taking  entire  charge  of  the  finances]. 

KINA.NCE    COMMITTEE. 

Archer  Brown,  Chairman United  Bank  Building. 

J.  E.  Q.  Maddox,  Secretary 73  Smith  Building. 

Louis  Manss,  Treasurer loi  West  Pearl  Street. 

1.  Walnut  Hills  District. — George  Peck,  Park  Avenue.  J.  E.  Q. 
Maddox,  36  Kemper  Lane. 

2.  Mt.  Auburn  District. — Matthew  Addy,  137  Auburn  Avenue. 
Archer  Brown,  Avondale. 

3.  Covington  District.— J.  D.  Shutt,  26  West  Fifth  Street.  W.  B. 
Carpenter,  Covington,  Ky. 

4*5.  United  Central  District  (4.  Original  East  District). — Henry 
W.  Sage,  Fourth  aud  Plum  Streets.     Louis  Manss,  loi  W.  Pearl  Street 

(5.  Original  West  District). — Thomas  Gibson,  273  Walnut  Street, 
Robert  T,  Morris,  65  Vine  Street. 

ADVERTISING    COIVITVIITTEHS. 

Dr.  E.  K.  Bel-l,  Chairman,  15  Hopkins  Street. 

1.  Walnut  Hills  District.— Rev.  C.  J.  Tannar,   143   Ashland  Ave. 

2.  Mt.  Auburn  District. — John  Webb,  Jr.,  Mt.  Auburn. 

3.  Covington  District. — Rev.  W.  H.  Neel,  Covington. 

4.  Central  District  [East].— Dr.  E.  K.  Bell,  15  Hopkins  Street. 

5.  Central   District  [West]. — Rev.  D.  McKinney,  22  Wesley  Ave* 


Manual  of  the 

CANVASSING    COIVIJVIITTEB. 

Geo.  T.  Howser,  Chairman,  Y.  M.  C.  A.  Building. 

1.  Walnut  Hills  District. — Rev.  W.  E.  Loucks,  855  Gilbert  Avenue. 

2.  Mt.  Auburn  District. — Dr.  J.  Pearson,  1 1  McCormick  Place. 

3.  Covington  District. — Dr.  J.  I.  Blackburn,  Covington. 

4.  Central  District  [East].— Rev.  W.  D.  Holt,  58  W.  Eighth  Street. 

5.  Central  District  [West].— Rev.  G.    R.   Robbins,  250  Everett  St. 

MUSIC   com;mittee. 

Frank  M.  Joyce,  Chairman,  186  West  Fourth  Street. 

1.  Walnut  Hills  District. — C.  A.  Sanders,  19  Grand  Street. 

2.  Mt,  Auburn  District. — Rev.  E.  A.  Ince,  2  Wellington  Place. 

3.  Covington  District. — Colonel  J.  A.  Johnson,  Covington. 

4.  Central  District  [East]. — Rev.  H.  W.  Gilchrist,  22  S.  Auburn. 

5.  Central  District  [West]. — Rev.  A.  M.  Dawson,  674  Freeman  Av. 

USHERS    COMMITTEE. 

Dr.  J.  Z.  Tyler,  Chairman,  352  W.  Eighth  Street. 

1.  Walnut  Hills  District. — Dr.  J.  W.  Simpson,  992  Gilbert  Avenue. 

2.  Mt.  Auburn  District. — Rev,  J.  J.  McCabe,  i  Eastview. 

3.  Covington  District. — J.  D.  Hearne,  500  Garrard  Street. 

4.  Central  District  [East].— Rev.  W.  H.  Warren,  San  Rafael. 

5.  Central  District  [West].— Dr.  J.  Z.  Tyler,  352  W.  Eighth  Street. 

DEVOTIONAL    COIMMITTEE. 

Dr.  Wm.  McKibbin,  Chairman,  Walnut  Hills. 

1.  Walnut  Hills  District.— Dr.  Wm.  McKibbin,  Walnut  Hills. 

2.  Mt.  Auburn  District.— Dr.  J.  Pearson,  Mt.  Auburn. 

3.  Covington  District. — Dr.  W.  A.  Robinson,  Covington. 

4.  Central  District  [East].— Rev.  W.  H.  Warren,  San  Rafael  Bldg. 

5.  Central  District  [West].— Dr.  G.  K.  Morris,  319  W.  Seventh  St. 


Mills  Meetings. 

DISTRICT  ORGANIZATIONS. 


DISTRICT  OFFICERS. 


1.  Walnut  Hills  District. — Rev.  J.  A.  Hall,  Chairman,  Mul- 
berry Street,  Walnut  Hills.  Rev.  W.  E.  Loucks,  Secretary,  855  Gil- 
bert Avenue. 

2.  Mt.  Auburn  District. — Rev.  H.  M.  Curtis,  Chairman,  ^^  East 
Auburn  Avenue.     Rev.  E,  A.  Ince,  Secretary,  2  Wellington  Place. 

3.  Covington. — Dr.  W.  A.  Robinson,  Chairman,  511  Greenup. 
Rev.  W.  a.  Cooper,  Secretary,  30  East  Robbins  Street. 

4.  United  Central  District  [East]. — Rev.  W.  H.  Warren, 
Chairman,  Flat  34,  San  Rafael  Building.  Rev.  W.  D.  Holt,  Secretary, 
132  West  Ninth  Street. 

5.  United  Central  District  [West]. — Dr.  Geo.  K.  Morris, 
Chairman,  319  West  Seventh  Street.  Rev.  D.  McKinney,  Secretary, 
22  Wesley  Avenue. 


DISTRICT  COMMITTEES. 


WALNUT  HILLS  DISTRICT. 
Rev.  J.  A  Hall,  D.  D.,  District  Chairman,  Mulberry  Street.      Rev. 
W.   E.  Loucks,  District  Secretary,  855  Gilbert  Avenue. 
FINANCE  COMMITTEE. 
George  Peck,  Park  Avenue,  and  245  West  Fifth  Street.     J.  E.  Q. 
Maddox,  36  Kemper  Lane. 

ADVERTISING  COMMITTEE. 
Rev.   C.  J.  Tannar,   143   Ashland   Avenue.      Dr.  A.  B.  Riggs,    127 
Kleine  Street.      Wm.    R.   Biddle,  29  Harvard  Avenue.      H.  C.  Moore, 
Locust,  north  of  Elmwood, 

CANVASSING  COMMITTEE. 
Rev.  W.  E.  Loucks,  855  Gilbert  Avenue.      D.  H.  Baldwin,   Grand 
Hotel.     J.  F.  Taylor,  3  Belmont  Place.     George  Monteith,  35  Elmw^ood 
Place.     Dr.  I.  D.  Jones,  393  McMillan  Ave. 

MUSIC  COMMITTEE 
C.  A.  Sanders,  19  Grand  Street.     J.  W.  Weakly,  Durrell  Avenue, 
near  Hapsburg.     H.  J.  Appleton,  355  Park  Ave. 


lo  Manual  of  the 

USHERS  COMMITTEE. 
Dr,  J.    W.    Simpson,   992    Gilbert    Ave.       George   Thompson,  58 
Fulton  Avenue.     W.  S.  Forshee,  52  Fairfax  Avenue. 

DEVOTIONAL  COMMITTEE. 
Dr,  Wm.   McKibbin,  Lane  Seminary,  Walnut  Hills.     Dr.   S.   Mc- 
Chesney,  Ashland  Avenue.     A.  M.  Worcester,  239  Park  Avenue. 


MT.  AUBURN  DISTRICT. 
Rev.  H.  M.  Curtis,   District  Chairman,   33.   E.   Auburn   Avenue. 
Rev.  E.  A.  Ince,  District  Secretary,  2  Wellington  Place. 
FINANCE  COMMITTEE. 
Matthew  Addy,  137  Auburn  Avenue.     Archer  Brown,  Avondale. 

ADVERTISING  COMMITTEE. 
John  Webb,  Jr.,  Northwest  corner  Eden  and  Corry  Avenues.    George 
Armstrong,  4  Mitchell  Avenue.     Rev.  Harry  Cone,  Mt.  Auburn. 

ga     :j  CANVASSING  COMMITTEE. 

Dr.  J.  Pearson,  11  McCormick  Place.  Kev.  J.  Oetjen,  11 14  Vine  St. 
Rev.  J.  W.  Peters,  Rockdale  Avenue,  Avondale.  Dr.  E.  L.  Warren, 
Evans  Place,  Clifton. 

MUSIC  COMMITTEE. 

Rev.  E.  A.  Ince,  2  Wellington  Place.  O.  N.  Bush,  35  Eden  Ave. 
J.  D.  Fry,  Ludlow  Avenue,  Clifton.  C.  S.  Bragg,  Main  Avenue,  Avon- 
dale.     Th.  Baur,  Jr.,  57  Euclid  Avenue. 

USHERS  COMMITTEE. 
Rev.  J.  J.   McCabe,  i    Eastview.      Dr.  W.  H.  Doane,  157   Auburn 
Avenue.     D.   Lytle,  49  McGregor   Avenue.      E.   W.    Mullikin,    Evans 
Place,  Clifton.     L.  H.   Blakemore,  Avondale.     J    M.  DeCamp,  31  Eden 
Avenue. 

DEVOTIONAL  COMMITTEE. 

Dr.  J.  Pearson,  Chairman,  II  McCormick  Place,  together  with  the 
Pastors  of  the  District. 


III.  COVINGTON   DISTRICT. 

Dr.  W.  A.  Robinson,  District  Chairman,  511  Greenup  Street,  Cov- 
ington, Ky.  Rev.  W.  A.  Cooper,  District  Secretary,  30  East  Robbins 
Street,  Covington,  Ky. 


Mills  Meetings.  ii 

finance  committee. 

J.  D.  Shutt,  26  West  Fifth  Street,  Covington,  Ky.  W.  B.  Carpen- 
ter,  Covington,  Ky. 

ADVERTISING   COMMITTEE. 

Rev.  W.  H.  Neel,  70  West  Eleventh  Street.  K.  J.  Morris,  Coving- 
ton, Ky.  Wm.  Clutes,  2402  Madison  Avenue.  E.  S.  Everett,  I08  Pike 
Street. 

CANVASSING  COMMITTEE. 

Dr.  J.  I.  Blackburn,  Covington,  Ky.  T.  J.  Smith,  13  Oliver  Street. 
John  Wooliscroft,  12 16  Madison  Avenue.  Kev.  F.  D.  T.  Bickley,  209 
East  Eighth  Street.     D.  C.  Culbertson,  1542  Scott  Street. 

MUSIC  COMMITTEE. 

Col.  John  A,  Johnson.  73  West  Fifth  Street.  J.  A.  Hanks,  Cov- 
ington, Ky.     S.  C.  DeGarmo,  30  East  Eleventh  Street. 

USHERS  COMMITTEE. 

J.  D.  Hearne,  500  Garrard  Street.  R.  H.  Bishop,  104  East  Front 
Street.     J.  A.  Simpson,  1 18  East  Third  Street. 

DEVOTIONAL  COMMITTEE. 

Dr.  W.  A.  Robinson,  511  Greenup  Street.  William  Ernst,  319 
Garrard  Street.     Henry  Ranshaw,  22j  West  Sixth  Street. 


IV.  AND  V.  UNITED  CENTRAL  DISTRICT. 

[IV,    ORIGINAL   EAST    DISTRICT.] 
Rev.  W.  H.  Warren,  District  Chairman,  Flat  34,  San  Rafael  Build- 
ing.    Rev.  W.  D.  Holt,  District  Secretary,  132  West  Ninth  Street. 

[v.    ORIGINAL   WEST    DISTRICT.] 

Dr.  George  K.  Morris,  District  Chairman,  319  West  Seventh  Street, 
Rev.  D.  McKinney,  District  Secretary,  22  Wesley  Avenue. 

FINANCE  COMMITTEE. 
[IV.   ORIGINAL   EAST   DISTRICT.] 

H.  W.  Sage,   Fourth  and  Plum  Streets.     Louis   Manss,  loi   West 
Pearl  Street. 

[V.  ORIGINAL  WEST   DISTRICT.] 

Thomas  Gibson,  273  Walnut  Street.     R.  T.  Morris,  $5  Vine  Street. 


12  Manual  of  the 

advertising  committee. 

[IV.  ORIGINAL   EAST   DISTRICT.] 

Dr.  E.  K.  Bell,  25  Hopkins  Street.  Rev.  J.  A.  Shannon,  289  West 
Ninth  Street,     Rev.  C.  W.  Rishell,  491  Sycamore  Street. 

[v.    ORIGINAL  WESf   DISTRICT.] 

Rev.  D.  McKinney,  22  Wesley  Avenue.  Rev.  J.  C.  Smith,  24  South 
Auburn  Avenue.  Dr.  H.  J.  Steward,  Price  Hill.  Dr.  M.  C.  Lock- 
wood,  2  Wesley  Avenue.  Richard  Park,  299  West  Ninsh  Street.  Mrs. 
Louise  Gilbert,  17  Hopkins  Street.  Mrs.  Wm.  M.  Ampt,  474  Baymiller 
street. 

CANVASSING   COMMITTEE. 
[iV.    ORIGINAL   EAST    DISTRICT.] 

Rev.  W^  D.  Holt,  132  West  Ninth  Street.  Rev.  Wm.  B.  Irwin, 
397  Eastern  Avenue.     Rev.  J.  A.  Markham,  The  Union  Bethel. 

[v.   ORIGINAL   WEST   DISTRICT.] 
Rev,  G.   R.  Robbins,   250  Everett   Street.     Rev.  Frank  Granstaff, 
386   John  Street.     Rev.    F.    B.    Walker,    Hawthorne    Avenue.     E.    L. 
Hamilton;  191^  Betts  Street.     Mrs.  Melvina  Davis,  359   West  Fourth 
Street.     Miss  Mary  E.  Wampler,  434  John  Street. 

MUSIC    COMMITTEE. 
[IV.   ORIGINAL   EAST  DISTRICT.] 
Rev.  H.   W.  Gilchrist,   22    South  Auburn   Avenue.     Rev.  E.    Mc- 
Hugh,   485^    Eastern    Avenue.     Rev.   W.   H.   Warren,  34  San  Rafael 
Building. 

[v.    ORIGINAL  WEST   DISTRICT.] 
Reu.  A.  M.  Dawson,  674  Freeman  Avenue.     Louis  Braydon,  Mound 
Street,  below  Seventh.     Charles  Hill,  58;^  Flint  Street.     W.  A.  Plastie, 
136  Wheeler  Street,  J.  H.  Filmore,  143  West  Sixth  Street. 

USHI>RS   COMMFTTEE. 
[iV.    ORIGINAL   EAST    DISTRICT.] 
Rev.  W.  H.  Warren,  34  San  Rafael  Building.     Rev.    D.   C.    Wash- 
burne,  Columbia  Avenue,  Station  C.     Rev.  C.  O.  Shirey,  Mt.  Adams. 

[V.    ORIGINAL   WEST   DISTRICT]. 

Lr.  J  Z.  Tyler,  352  West  Eighth  Street.  Rev.  P.  C.  Curnick,  Price 
Hill.  Rev.  W.C.  Payne,  Cumminsville.  Rev.  E.  R.  Wagner,  17  Hop- 
kins Street.     Rev.  J.  M.  Simonton,  510  West  Seventh  Street. 


Mills  Meetings.  13 

devotional  committee. 

[IV.    ORIGINAL   EAST   DISTRICT.] 

Rev.  W.  H.  Warren,  34  San  Rafael  Building.  Dr.  E.  K.  Bell,  15 
Hopkins  Street.     Rev.  W.  D.  Holt,  132  West  Ninth  Street. 

[v.    ORIGINAL  WEST    DISTRICT.]^ 

Dr.  Geo.  K.  Morris,  319  West  Seventh  Street.  Dr.  H.  J.  Steward, 
Price  Hill.  Rev.  J.  M.  Anderson,  347  Hamilton  Pike  (Twenty-fifth 
Ward).  Rev.  A.  D.  Maddox.  Tremont  Street,  Fairmount.  Dr.  J.  H. 
Walker,  College  Hill.  Dr.  J.  J.  Francis,  61  Mound  Street.  Rev.  J.  W. 
Magruder,  574  Colerain  Avenue. 


CANVASSERS. 


It  has  been  impossible'  to  obtain  a  full  list  of  the  can- 
vassers in  the  different  districts,  for  the  reason  that  in  some 
of  the  districts  no  record  was  kept  of  their  names.  Probably 
not  less  than  five  or  six  hundred  canvassers  were  engaged  in 
this  grand  work  of  house  to  house  visitation.  The  following 
list  is  therefore,  very  incomplete.  We  give,  however,  such 
names  as  we  could  obtain. 


CANVASSING    OONIMIXTEK. 


George  T,  Howser,  Chairman,  Y.  M.  C.  A.  Building. 


Rev.  W.  D.  Holt 
Rev.  G.  R.  Robbins. 
Rev.  W.  E.  IvOUCKs. 


Dr.  J.  Pearson. 
Dr.  J.  I.  Blackburn 


PARTIAL     LIST    OK    CANVASSERS. 


Allen,  Lizzie 
Anderson,  Mrs. 
Attig,  Kate 
Allen,  Allison 

Boyd,  Luella 
Bluemensteel,  Laura 
Bishop,  Mrs.  R. 
Butler,  Emma  E. 
Buehler,  Cora  E, 
Boyd,  Mrs.  M. 
Brown,  Mrs.  J.  F. 
Bentley,  Mrs.  W.  B. 
Boyle,  Mrs.  E.  S. 
Bivans,  Nettie 
Bailey,  Mrs. 
Bingham,  Mrs, 
Bickley,  Mr. 
Brinkman,  Mas. 
Bald  ridge,  Mrs. 


Barrett,  Mr. 
Blackburn,  Lucy 
Blaisdell,  Mrs. 
Boyd,  Luella 
Bailey,  Mrs.  D.  J. 

Capel.  Mrs. 
Chamberlain,  Mrs. 
Clark,  Mrs.  J. 
Culver,  Neva 
Chapin,  N.  J. 
Coppage,  Miss 

Davis,  Ed. 
Dewey,  James 
Davenport,  Warren 
DeWitt,  Mrs.  W.  H. 
Deane,  Miss  E. 
Droffton,  Miss 
Daniels,  Mrs. 


DeGarmo,  Ida 
Davidson,  Mrs,  Geo, 

Ehlen,  Anna 
Ebersole,  Dr.  Jacob 
Ebersole,  Mrs.  Joseph 
Ewing,  Maggie 
Tbbert,  Annie 

Fisher,  Mrs.  William 
Fleming,  Mrs.  C.  N. 
Fisher,  Margaret 
Fisher,  Emily 
Fisher,  Isabel 

Getz,  Mrs. 

Garrettson,  Mrs.  Julia 
Griffith,  Mrs. 
Gamble,  Mrs.  W.  A. 
Graham,  Mrs.  M. 


Mills  Meetings. 


15 


Gormley,  Mrs.  M. 
Groom,  Bell 

Huntington,     Mrs.     C. 

L.  F. 
Hewitt,  Jason  D. 
House,  Mrs.  M. 
Herron,  Mrs.  Wm. 
Hageman,  Mrs.  Dr. 
Hart,  Mrs.  G.  P. 
Heitzman,  Ida 
Howard,  Anna 
Hinnecamp,  Mrs. 
Hamilton,   Mrs.  W.  C. 
Hill,  Claude 
Hanauer,  Maggie 

Ingels,  George  W. 

Janes,  Mamie 
Jones,  Mrs.  J.  B. 
James,  Ida 

Kennedy,  Jessie 
Kohlbrand,  Cora 
Kauther,  Mrs.  Anna 
Kilgore,  Josephine 
Kendall,  Alice 
King,  John 
Kerr,  Mrs.  Sarah 

Lawton,  Mrs.  E.  M. 
Lyford,  Mrs.  F.  L. 
Lindsey,  Mrs. 
Lyon,  Lina  T. 
Eyman,  Mrs. 
Lenning,  Mrs. 


Leisure,  Emma 
Loder,  Pearl 

Martin,  Libbie 
Moore,   Herbert 
Merritt,  Miss  M.  C. 
Montgomery,  Nellie 
Mann,  Mrs.  H.  P. 
Miller,  Mrs.  Edward 
Morgan,  Mrs. 
Matley,  Mrs. 
McGlassoii,  Alice 
McAdams,  Mrs. 
Metcalf,  Miss 
Miller,  Gussie 

Neeley,  Mrs.  T. 

Palmer,  Mrs.  C.  D. 
Park,  Mary 
Peter,  Mrs.  M. 
Pearce,  Mary 
Pearce,  Kate 
Pugh,  Mahala 

Robson,  Mrs.  W.  T. 
Reynolds,  Mrs. 
Richenbocher,  William 
Reeves.  Mrs.  James 
Radcliffe,  Mrs. 
Riggs,  Mamie 

Simrall,  L.  B. 
Stoops,  Miss 
Schwedler,  Richard 
Street,  Mrs.  S.  G. 


Saunders,  Emma 
Stewart,  Mrs.  I.  N. 
Stewart,  Gertrude 
Sage,  Mrs.  A.  J. 
Sage,  Helen 
Smith,  Miss 
Sharp,  Mrs.  Chas.  F. 
Smith,  Oliver 
Sweet,  Mrs. 
Sayers,  Mr. 
Scherrer,  Miss 

Upperman.  Jennie 
Unkroft,  Sophia 

Voightlander,  Max. 
Van  Slyck,  Miss 

Williams,  Ella 
Warden,  Mrs.  W.  W. 
Williams,  Mrs.  J.  P. 
Worcester,  Mrs.  A.  M. 
Wagner,   Florence 
Wise,  Mrs. 
Williams,  Mrs. 
Winters,  Mrs. 
Wilson,  Kate 
Winston,  Mamie 
Wisehall,  Miss 
Wade,  Edith 

Young,  Richard 

Total,  145,  and  many 
others  whose  names 
we  could  not  obtain. 


USHERS. 


The  grand  company  of  ushers  of  the  Mills  Meetings  was 
probably  as  efl&cient  a  body  of  men  as  were  ever  banded 
together  for  a  similar  purpose.  As  with  the  choir,  the  list 
of  ushers  at  Music  Hall  was  made  up  of  the  companies  of 


i6 


Manual  of  the 


district  ushers  combined.  We  have  endeavored  to  make  it 
as  complete  as  possible;  and  if  any  names  are  omitted,  the 
omission  has  been  unintentional. 


coniniittke:  on  ushers. 


Dr.  J.  Z.  Tyler,  Chairman. 


Rev.  W.  H.  Warren. 
Dr.  J.  W.  Simpson. 


Rev.  J.  J.  McCabe. 
Mr.  J.  D.  Hearne. 


OROANIZATION    OK    USHERS. 


C.  A.  Sanders,  Grand  Chief  Usher. 


CHIEF   USHERS. 

J.  L.  KoRN,  Auditorium.  A.  M.  Worcester,  Balcony. 

T.  M.  WoRCEvSTER,  Gallery.        E.  E.  Shipley,  Platform, 


ASSISTANT   chief   USHERS. 

Dr.  T.  J.  Peale.  Wm.  McAllister.   T.  C.  VanHouten. 

J.  B.  Martin.  Chas.  M.  Meyers.   E  C.  Huser. 

I.  D.  Fry.  L.  H.  Blakemore.   J.  W.  Weakley. 
R.  S.  Fulton. 


Vlexander,  W.  J. 
Anderson,  J.  E. 

Brown,  Archer 
Blademore,  L.  H. 
Bell,  J.  A. 
Bansraith,  W.  P. 
Buttz,  R. 
Biddle,  F.  M. 
Bogle  E.  S. 
Brook,  W.  E. 
Brown,  R.  McC. 
Browneller,  J.  K. 


USHERS. 

Baster,  C.  E. 
Block,  S.  E. 
Bowman,  W.  F. 
Birchard,  Dr.  A.  D. 
Brown,  A.  Wilson 
Brown,  J.  F. 
Bauer,  Theo.,  Jr. 
Baldwin,  James 
Burgess,  W.  M. 

Collins,  T.  T. 
Clark,  E.  A. 
Crane,  H.  L. 


Chapin,N.  J. 
Chase,  D.  W. 
Collins,  Ed.  A. 
Care,  T.  J. 
Cummins,  Prof.  J.  P. 
Cloger,  A.  D.  E. 
Clarke,  J.  A. 
Campbell,  George  H. 
Cober,  A.  A. 
Collins,  F.  F. 
Caie,  F.  J. 

Dickens,  Henry 


Mills  Meetings. 


If 


Davis,  E.  R. 
Douglass,  J.  M. 
Davis,  A.  W. 
Doane,  Dr.  \V.  H. 
Davenport,  D.  G. 
Davis.  A.  W. 
DeCamp,  J.  M. 

Earle,  E.  E. 
Everett,  C.  E. 
Evans,  A.  O. 
Evans,  James  T. 
Ewing,  Charles  A. 

Fenley,  Joseph  B, 
Ferguson,  W.  M. 
Findlay,   F. 
Furber,  C.  J. 
Forsher,  W.  S. 
Fry,  I.  D. 
Ferry,  Francis 

Graf,  Henry 
Gamble,  D.  B. 
Gamble,  W.  A. 
Gibbs,  E.  B. 
Gaines,  R.  E. 
Gaul,  J.  L. 
Green,  E.  O. 
Gray,  James 
Getchell,  Z. 
Grote,  H.  J. 
Gaines,  Ernest 

Hastings,  R.  C. 
Harmon,  A.  H. 
Hathaway,  B.  F. 
Hamilton,  W.  C, 
Holmes,  Ed. 
Hamal,  G.  H. 
Holmguist,  J.  A. 
Huntington,  C.  L.  F. 
Hubbell,  W.  M.,  Jr. 
Hilles,  S.  E. 
Hull,  T.  W, 

Ireland,  C.  W. 

Jouvet,  J.  H. 
Joyce,  M.  D. 
Johnson,  F.  J, 
Joyne,  J.  A. 


Johnston,  H.  J.  R. 
Jones,  Arthur  E. 

Kemmeter,  G.  L. 
King,  James  B. 
Kohler,  J.  W. 
Kinsey,  Oliver 
King,  J.  N. 

Langdale,  R.  H. 
Lafferty,  A.  R. 
Lindsey,  H.  K, 
Lownie,  D.  M. 
Laidlaw,  Robert 
Law,  W.  F. 
Lytle,  David 

Mason,  G.  L. 
McBeth,  R.  M. 
Mueller,  John 
Morris,  R.  L. 
Myer,  A.  H. 
Morgan,  W.  H. 
Moore,  J.  E. 
Moore,  H.  C. 
Morganstern,  E. 
Miller,  E.  S. 
Miller,  J.  G. 
Monfort,  D.  G. 
Monfort,  E.  R. 
Moore,  H.  C. 
McMunn,  H. 
Morris,  R.  T. 
Meldon,  Frederick 
Macbrair,  A.  W. 
Montgomery,  W.   A, 
Morebach,  A.  W. 
Meacham,  D.  B. 
Magly,  Wm. 
Meininger,  Charles,  Jr. 
Meyers,  Charles  M. 

Nielson,  J.  T. 
Nichol,  T.  J. 
Nippert,  H. 
Nichols,  E.  T. 

Ogborn,  W.  H. 
Olmstead,  H.  B, 

Perkins,  W.  T. 
Park,  N.  R. 


Ploger,  A,  D.  E. 
Pichark,  George  W. 
Piper,  H.  S. 
Pugh.  A,  R, 
Pfaffllin,  H.  C. 
Pfister,  Herman 

Rossiter,  H.  M. 
Renshaw,  E.  H. 
Robertson,  Dr.  J. 
Reeves,  J.  W. 
Ruggles,  C.  B. 
Rodman,  F.  K. 
Rankin,  M.  M, 
Roberts,  John 

Sedgwick,  J.  D. 
Shutt,  J.  D. 
Stephenson,  C. 
Sutton,  R.  C. 
Snider,  T.  A, 
Schroder,  H.  R. 
Shattuck,  A.  C. 
Splatt,  William 
Snodgrass,  G.  M. 
Stabler,  L.  A. 
Shands  E.  C. 
Seininger,  S. 
Smith,  W.  W. 
Schedd,  F.  M. 
Snodgrass,  G.  W. 
Smith,  Charles  E. 

Thompson,  J.  A. 
Tingley,  E.  P. 
Tudor,  S.  S. 
Todd,  John 

Ulrici,  Amor  W. 
Underbill,  J.  T. 
Van  Sandt,  W.  B. 
Von  Wych,  E. 
Valentiner,  William 

Walter,  V.  W. 
W2sson,  B.  W. 
Wilder,  D. 
Witte,   E.  R.  C. 
Walker,  G.  P. 
Warwick,  W.  W. 
Wells,  Samuel 
Webb,  J.  B. 


1 8  Manual  of  the 

Wilson,  J.  B.  Webb,  J.  Jr.                         whose      names      we 

Waterhouse,  J.  H.  could  not  obtain. 

Weakley,  J.  W.  Total,   179,    and  prob, 

Weist,  W.  D.  ably     many    others- 


THE  CHOIR. 


In  each  district  a  choir  of  from  one  hundred  to  two 
hundred  voices  was  organized  for  the  district  meetings.  In 
the  final  meetings  in  Music  Hall,  these  district  choirs  were 
merged  into  one,  with  additional  singers,  making  a  grand 
chorus  of  more  than  one  tho7isa?td  voices.  The  roll  of  this 
grand  musical  organization  is  given  below,  as  prepared  by 
the  choir-secretary,  Mr.  Macbrair.  The  effort  has  been  made 
to  omit  no  names  from  any  of  the  districts,  although  they 
may  not  have  served  at  Music  Hall. 


M:USI0    CONINIITTEK. 


C.  A.  Sanders,  Chairman. 

Rev.  H.  W.  Gilchrist.  Col.  J.  A.  Johnson. 

Rev.  a.  M.  Dawson.  Frank  M.  Joyce. 

Rev.  E.  a.  Ince. 

a.  W.  Macbrair,  Choir  Secretary. 

LEADER. 

Mr.  Lawrence  B.  Greenwood. 

organists. 
Miss  Rebecca  R.  Snyder,  and  Mr.  Chas.  A.  Austin. 


Mills  Meetings. 


19 


NANIES    OK   SINQKRS. 


SOF»RANO    AND    CONTRALTO. 


Andrus,  Edith 
Adams,  Kate 
Anderson,  Anna 
Alexander,  Mamie 
Allen,  Allison 
Arnet,  Eliza 
Abbott,  Mrs.  C.  N. 
Abbott,  Mrs.  N.  W. 
Attig,  Mrs.  W.  H. 
Attig,  Hettie 
Allan,  Nellie  M. 
Albertsen,   Mrs.  Annie 
Allan,  Mrs.  M. 
Andler,  Sophia 
Allen,  Kitty 
Anderson,  Clara  R. 
Adriance,  May  Dalton 
Allan,  Mrs.  Jennie  W. 
Anderson,  Maggie 
Allen,  Martha 
Albray,  Clara 
Alden,  Lizzie 
Andrus,  Miss 

Bernhardt,  Emma 
Benedict,  Mary  K. 
Bivans,  Nettie 
Bernhardt,  Carrie 
Bryson,  Minnie 
Beresford,  Effie 
Blakemore,  Mrs.  L.  H. 
Baker,  Stella 
Baur,  Louisa 
Billenstein,  Lillie 
Billenstein,  Katie 
Beresford,  Jessie 
Bottenus,  Anna 
Browneller,  Clara 
Beach,  Lottie 
Boring,  Mrs.  Zell 
Beeler,  Mary 
Benham,  Ethel 
Beach,  Lottie 
Boring,  Mrs.  D.  Z. 
Ballenber,  Clara 
Barrows,  Edith 
Bowen,  Carrie 
Bernhardt,  Emma 


Bowman,  Lulu 
Best,  Tamar 
Belser,  Grace  M. 
Buckles,  Hattie  M. 
Bascom,  Katie 
Bird,  Mary 
Bachmeyer,  Lizzie 
Bonfrey,  Carrie 
Bedinger,  Mrs.  E.  A. 
Belser,  Daisy 
Bernhardt,  Carrie 
Boone,  Ida 
Brophy,  Anna 
Brophy,   Kate 
Brice,  Esther  E. 
Berte,    Margaret 
Bernard,  Perle 
Bassett,  Edna 
Blinn,  L.  E. 
Becker,  Louise  A. 
Bailey,  Mrs.  J.  E. 
Bernard,  Mrs.  Mary  L. 
Bernard,  Netta 
Brewer,  Bertha 
Barwise,  Stella 
Barwise,  Lou 
Bowen,  Mary  M. 
Baenninger,  Tillie 
Brown,  Birdie  F. 
Brown,  Myra 
Burck,  Emma 
Bottenus,  Annie 
Benham  Julia 
Benham,  Mrs.  H.  L. 
Benham,  Elthel 
Blinn,  Dora 
Black,  Grace 
Black,  Mrs.  Samuel  E. 
Barkers,  Lillie 

Culver,  Nettie 
Clure,  Annie  M. 
Cooke,  Sarah 
Cost,  Lenora 
Cost,  Naomi 
Cost,  Jessie  F. 
Costello,  Mrs;  Mattie 
Christy,  Emma  L. 


Cashatt,   Flossie 
Carruthers,  Katie 
Chambers,  Birdie 
Copeland,  P^lorence 
Carson,  Mabel  A. 
Chambers,  Alma 
Coulter,  Emma 
Coulter,  Ella  B. 
Chamberlin,  Laura  M. 
Czischeck,  Nellie 
Conn,  M.  Ella 
Collins,  Ethel  L. 
Closson,  Fannie  A. 
Closson,  Alice 
Campbell,  Carrie 
Cooke,  Alice 
Clark,  Mrs.  Alice 
Curnick,  Mrs.  Samuel 
Coney,  Carrie  H. 
Coney,  M.  Daisy 
Coney,  Alice  B. 
Coney,  Grace 
Curneck,  Mrs.  P.  C. 
Cashatt,  Winnie 
Christian,  Alice 
Catlow,  Edith 

Davis,   Luella 
Devon,   Sadie 
Durreh,  Blanche  W. 
Dexter,  Marian  L. 
Discher,   Mamie 
Darby,  Clara  H. 
DeWitt,  Birdie 
Dawson,  Mrs.Hestaline 
Dearness,  Anna  G. 
Dearness,  Ethel  M. 
Douglass,  Isabella  R. 
Davidson,  Ina 
Dawson,  Irene  E. 
DeChamont,  Minnie  E. 
Diehl,  Margaret  B. 
Davis,  Jennie 
Dugan,  Mrs.  R.  W. 
Driemeyer,   Emma 
Dickinson,  Edna 
Doppler,  Minnie  L. 
Dale,  Mrs.  James 


20 


Manual  of  the 


Downs,  Nellie 
Delemyer,  Emma 
Davis,  Hattie  L. 
DeGarmo,  Mis.  S.  C. 
Drais,  Clara  C. 
Dicl-cey,  E.  S. 
Duerr,  Fannie  S. 
Dowdetl,  Mrs.  H. 
Day,  Clara 
Dill,  Anna 
Duerr,  Louise  B. 
Dickey,  Mrs.  C, 
Daniels,   Flora 

Ellison,  Kittie 
Evans,  Clara 
Evans,  Lillian 
Ewart,  Lou 
Ewrart,  Mrs.  M. 
Ellis,  Hettie 
Ellis,  Eva 
Eaton,  Lydia  IL 
Endebrock,  Clara 
Evans,  Mary  T. 
Evans,  Bessie 
Eakle,  Ida  M. 
Eckmann,  Lena 
Eckmann,  Mary 
Ewing,  Kate 
Evans,  Mary  A. 

Feth,  Minnie 
Feth,  Louisa 
Fillmore,  Nettie 
Folger,  Alice  A. 
Fursy.  Clara 
French,  Tillie 
Fursy,  S. 
Fleming,  Josie 
Frazee,  Mrs.  John  T. 
Ferguson,  Mabel  A. 
Fortiheyer,  Emma 
Fogg,  Mrs.  E.  S. 
Fitts,  Mamie 
Fleisher,  Emeline 
Freitag,  Mary 
Frederick,  Louise 
Foertmeyer,  Emma 
Fisher,  Mrs.  Lida  H. 
Furber,  Anna  M.  L. 
Frelsens,  Leonora 
Francis,  Nellie  M.  C. 


Gaskill,  Edna 
Graham,  Eugenie  A. 
Granstaff,  Mrs.  Lou 
Griffith,  Julia 
Gutherie,  Cora 
Gutherie,  Belle 
Games,  Mrs.  Maggie 
Garrison,  Kate 
Garrison,  Anna  R. 
Gray,  Harriet  J. 
Goble,  Mary  O. 
Gommersall,  Hannali 
Garen,  Minnie 
Griffith,  Gertrude  E. 
Griffith,  Alice 
Gardner,  Emma 
Glover,  Jennie 
Groff,  Clara  B. 
Gerhardt,  Lizzie  M, 
Gerhard,  Clara 
Gould,  Grace 
Galbraith,  Grace 
Galbraith,  Aggie 
Graff,  Ella  T. 
Grayble,  Kate 
Gottleib,  Ruth  A. 
Grizzell,  Katie 
Gross,  Mrs.  W.  F. 
Greenwood,  Grace 
Graham,  Mattie 
Godden,  Mamie 
Godden,  Daisy 
Gennett,  Anna  B. 
Geier,  Emma  F. 
Geyer,  Lena 
Geyer,  Lillie 
Groger,  Jennie  C. 
Goepper,  Mrs.  M. 
Graham,  Miss 
Ginter,  Irene 
Geisert,  Flora 
Goode,  Mary  E. 
Garrison,  Mrs.  L.  G. 

Harden,  Birdie 
Harrows,  Edith 
Hoffinan,  Mary 
Handy,  Mrs.  Ceorge 
Heitzman,  Ida  G. 
Hackmann,  Mary 
Healy,  Maud 
Hall,  Mrs.  H. 


Hartlieb,  Emma 
Hardy,  Mamie  S. 
How,  Nellie 
Hageman,  Vashti 
Harlow,  Mrs.  J.  B. 
Halstead,  Miss 
Harvey,  Daisy 
Hablitzel,  Marie 
Hutchinson,  Mrs.  E.  L. 
Hageman,   Hannah  B. 
Handman,  Mary 
Hartlieb,  Anna  M. 
Hunter,  Lillian  C. 
Harris,  Mrs.  Julie 
Halley,  R.   Ella 
Halley,  Carrie  B. 
Horstmann,  Anna 
Holmquist,  Adela 
Hubbarth,  Lillie 
Hewston,  Emma  S. 
Hendley,    Florence   G. 
Havehorst,  Lucy 
Hubbell,  Effie 
Hopkins,  Mayner 
Hodge,  Mrs. 
Hilgmeier,  Ella 
Hart,  Lydia 
Holdt,  Clara 
Hughes,  Maggie 
Hubbell,  Mrs.   W.   M. 
Henry,  Martha 
Haller,  Anna 
Hougham,  Mrs.  H.  C. 
Hubbell,  Emma 
Hubbell,  Mrs,  E.  S. 
Hukill,  Bertha 
Huntley,  Mrs.  Josie 
Horton,  Mrs.  M.  L.  W 
Houston,  Stella 
Herms,  Mrs.  Minnie 
Herrman,  Rose  L. 
Hecker,  Emma 
Humphreys,  Anna 
Harrover,  Mrs.  W.  H. 
Hildebrandt,   Mrs. 
How,  Jennie 
Howells,  Mayme 
Haebe,  Amelia 
Heineman,  Anna 
Hewston,  Alice  H. 
Hill,  Mrs.  Frank 
Hill,  Olive 


Mills  Meetings. 


21 


Ince,  Nellie  C. 
Ide,  H.  E. 

Jones,  Mary 
Jones,  .\lnia 
Jones,  Mamie 
Jones,  Jennie  IVL 
Joyce,  Mrs.  Bishop 
Jones,  Maggie 
Jewell,  Ida  M. 
Jones,  Anna  M. 
Jayne,  Mrs.  Laura  Bell 
Jones,  Mamie  E. 
James,  Estella  A. 
Johnston,  Sallie  D. 
Johnston,  Mrs.  Sarah  R. 
James,  Belle  R. 
Jones,  Louise 
James,  Grace  R. 
James,  Ida  May 
Jones,  Maggie 
Jones,  Alma  F. 

King,  Laura 
Kittleberg,  Lillie 
Knox,  Anna 
Knox,  Martha 
Knight,  Cassie 
Kinsey,  Genevieve 
Kennedy,  Minnie  A. 
Key,  Sarah  E. 
Key,  May 
Kennedy,  Miss 
King,  Blanche 
Knox,  Edith 
Koch,  Anna  M. 
Koester,  Alice 
Koester,  Edith 
King,  Miss 
Keith,  Mrs.  Robert 
Kleinhaus,  Belle 
Kyrk,  Mrs.  L. 
Kohlmeyer,  Alice 
Kohlmeyer,  Laura 
Kemper,  Carrie  E. 
King,  Mrs.  Bird  M. 
Kackley,  Mrs. 
Kraus,  Katie 
Kemper,  Vesta 
Kaps,  Minnie  J. 
Kohl,  Lillian 
Korn,  Laura  M. 


Kirkpatrick,  Agnes 
King,  Mrs.  Y. 
Kinney,  Mattie  N. 
Kaiser,  Clara 
Knittel,  Lena 
King,  Mrs. 
Kaufman,  Minnie 
King,  Minnie 
Keyt,  Mrs.  H,  B 

Linck,  Mamie 
Leasure,  Emma 
Lawson,  Anna  N. 
Leming,  Mrs.  W.  M. 
Lewis,  Sarah 
Lownie,  Nellie 
Lingenfelter,  Ella  L. 
Little  Mollie 
Loucks,  Mrs.  W.  E. 
Lee,  Mrs,  George  A. 
Lingenfelter,  Carrie 
Little,  Mollie  C. 
Laidley,  Mrs.  F.  A. 
Lindsey,  Alice  E. 
Liebenberg,  Ida 
Leonard,  Addie 
Lawrence,  Anna  B. 
Layman,  Margaret  E. 
Lockwood,  Anna  M. 
Lally,  Stella 
Lewis,  Winnie 
Lesher,  Ella 
Lewis,  Mrs.  E.  S. 
Leonard,  Atlilia  E. 
Lockard,  Mrs.  C.  E. 
Langenbeck,  Lottie 
Langenbeck,  Anna 
Lovell,  Ella 
Leary,  Ella 
Lockhard,  Fidelia 
Leminger,  Grace  E. 
Lord,  Kate  R. 
Langdon,  Mrs.  Josie 
Long,  Mrs.  J.  R. 
Legge,  Ida 
Lytle,  Mrs.  Abby 
Looker.  Clara  H. 
Lacey,  Dr.  Margrete  E. 
Long,  Jennie  S. 
Longenecker,  Mrs.  A.  P. 

Mackenzie,  Maud 


Morgenstern,   Nathalie 
McLeod,  Mary 
Meyers  Clara 
Morton,  Addie  S. 
Meyer,  Catherine 
Morgan,  Belle 
Matthews,  May 
Mitchell,  Maggie 
Melrose,  Belle 
Mossman,  Sue 
Montgomery,  Nellie 
Meyer,  Wilhelmine 
McLeod,  Maud 
Morhard,  Marguerite 
Macbrair,  Mrs.   A.   W. 
Moreton,  Dusmea 
McCall,  Ada 
McClure,  Amy 
McKibbin,  Ida 
McChesney,  Miss 
Mindermann,   Caroline 
Meyer  Emma 
Melbourn,  Lizzie 
Munson,  Mrs. 
Mullen,  Nellie 
McCall,  Ida 
Miller,  Anna 
McCormick,  Ida 
Morris,  Lizzie 
Martin,  Nettie 
Mahl,  Katie 
Morsbach,  Mrs.  A. 
Morhard,  Marguerite 
Momberg,  Justine 
Magly,  Mrs.  Wm. 
McDowell,  Jessie 
Martin,  Etta 
Mellor,  Atta  M. 
Matthews,  Mamie 
Melrose,  Isabella 
Munson,  Mrs.  Geo.   F. 
Mirrielees,  Lillian  H. 
Mirrielees,  Helen  M. 
Miller,  Matilda 
Marsh,  Mamie 
Monroe,  Minnie 
Miller,    Marie 
Miller,  Mrs.  E.  S. 
McLeod,  Maggie 
Mitchell,  Florence 
Miller,  Elizabeth 
Moores,  Lillie  B. 


22 


Manual  of  the 


Magly,  Carrie 
Mosby,  Stella  M. 
Miller,  Margaret 
Moore,  Maltie  A. 
Montgomery,  Elizabeth 
Marty,  Clara 
Miller,  Mrs.  M.  F. 
Moore,  Jennie 
Mathels,  Lillie 
Maitland,  I^izzie 
Morgenstern,  Tillie 
Metz,  Louise 
Marsh,  Nellie 
-Monfort,  Adelaide  H. 
Morrell,  Mrs.  C.  B. 
Munn,  Lottie  A. 
Monfort,  H.   Louise 
Monfort,  Mary  E. 
McGowen,  Mayme 
Merritt,  Mrs.  C. 
Miller,  Rose 
Marsh,  Mattie 
Mirrielees,   Jeanette  J. 
Mdes,  Lillie 
Monfort,  Marguerite 
Meyer,  Anna 
McGowen,  Bertha 
Miller,  Mrs.  J.   G.  Jr., 
McGowan,  Barbara 
McFall,  Jennie 

Nomack,  Anna 
Nomack,  Maria 
Norton,  Mary  A. 
Nieman,  Alice 
Nicholson,  Tillie 
Neuber,  Tillie 
Norton,  Jennie  L. 
Nippert,  Ida 
Nicholson,  Minnie  P. 
Nippert,  Flora 
Nippert,  Mrs.  H. 
Nightengale,    Florence 
Neubauer,  Pauline 
Nippert,  Ella 
Nippert,  Elizabeth  F. 
Nippert,  Olga  L. 
Nunn,  Lottie  A. 

Ogborn,  Mrs.  W.  H. 
On,  DoUie 
Orloop,  Miss 


Orlopp,  Mrs.  M. 
Ostendorf,   Susie 
Oetgen,  Kate  A. 
Ogborn,  Lizzie  J. 
Osborn,  Florence 

Parnell,  Grace   A. 
Perry,  Pearl  M. 
Potter,  Emma  M. 
Pugh,    Sadie 
Powers,  Nanioi  A. 
Phillips,   Lena 
Palmer,  Anna 
Potter,  Clara  A. 
Powell,  Mrs.  R. 
P  itthoff,  Louise 
Perkins,    Mamie  J. 
Porter,   Laura 
Potthoff,    Matilda 
Porter,  Jeanette 
Poage,  Fannie  >L 
Phillips,   Emma 
Peters,  Stella  D.  E. 
Peters,  Mrs.  J.  W. 
Poole,  Julia 
Palmer,    Anna  R. 
Palmer,  Carrie 
Penn,  Philina 
Peters,  Nora 
Poland,   Louisa 
Philbin,  Clara 
Peet,    Mamie 
Pine,  Mary  E. 
Powell,  Minnie 
Poole,  Nellie 
Prinz,  Lena 
Powell,  Carrie  A. 
Peter,    Riggie 
Pickard,  Mrs.    G.  W. 
Palmer,  Lossie 
Pierson,    Beulah 

Queen,  Carrie 

Rohmann,  Rosa 
Rust,  Horence 
Roudebush.  Mrs.  L. 
Rust,  Nettie 
Riddel,  lone  B. 
Richter,  Alice 
Richter,  May 
Reynolds,    Mrs.  O.    A. 


Rennick,  Maggie  M. 
Radclift'e,  Florence 
Robb,  Emma 
Robb,  M.  C. 
Riesner,   Lizzie 
Riesner,  Anna 
Riesner,  Pauline 
Ross,  Miss  Georgia 
Riihl,  Katie 
Riddel,  Mrs.  B. 
Robbins,  Mrs.  G.  R. 
Reakirt,  Grace 
Root,   Effie 
Riddell,  Mollie  K. 
Rogers,    Emma 
Rohrer,    Elizabeth  A. 
Ross,  ayM  E. 
Riefle,  Emma 
Rietman,  Cora  L. 
Redmond,  Mabel 
Raugh,  Mrs.  Mary 
Roeder,  Sadie 
Ramsdell,  Clara 
Ryon,  Maud 
Reid,  Tillie 
Reid,   Emma 
Roudebush,  Mrs.  S. 
Richardson,  Jessie 
Rossiter,  Lida  A. 
Rennick,  Maggie  M. 
Rareshed,  Nellie 
Richards,  Anna  R. 
Radcliffe,  Mrs.  Sadie 
Radcliffe,  Hattie 
Rcssiter,  Maria  A. 
Remelin,  Gertrude 
Remelin,  Lillian  Lea 
Reynolds,  Mrs.  O.  A. 

Steinmetz,  Amelia 
Spence,  Lulu 
Steinmetz,  Roza  A. 
Sherwood,  Eva 
Stamm,  Carrie 
Stickney,   Fannie 
Shydler,  Alice 
Stiles,  Hattie  M. 
Silbernagle,  Ida 
Schlemmer,  Emma 
Shiller,  Lulu 
Schaible,  C. 
Simpson,  Louise 


Mills  Meetings. 


23 


Stubert,  Carrie  B. 
Sullivan,  Clara 
Sloss,  Jeanette 
Shephard,  Jessie 
Snyder,  Mary 
Stewart,  Emma  B. 
Sheerer,  Nannie  C. 
Shattinger,  Martha 
Spelman,    Delia 
Shain,  Mrs.  J.  F. 
Steuber,  Louise  M. 
Steuber,  Katharine  M. 
Sanders,  Alice  F. 
Sanders,  Mrs.  C.  A. 
Shipley,  Mrs. 
Smith,  Alice  N. 
Schenelle,  Mrs.   W.  F. 
Smith,  Minnie 
Scott,  Mrs.  A.  M. 
Storey,  Maggie 
Strachley,  Lena 
Sanders,  Emma  A. 
Struble,  Flora 
Spining,  Clara  H. 
Struble,  Alice 
Sparks,  Cora  B. 
Sage,  Helen 
Sage,  Alice 
Smith,  Ella  A. 
Sawyer,  Estella 
Saxton,  Fannie 
Stoffer,   Edna 
Stapleton,  Florence  M. 
Sargent,  Hattie  B. 
Shirey,  Mrs.  Rose 
Shoomaker,  Marie 
Sparks,  Fannie 
Sparks,  Miss  M. 
Spinning,  Ella  A. 
Spinning,  Minnie  A. 
Struempler,  Ella 
Struempler,  Millie 
Sharp,  Mrs.  C.  F. 
Stapleton,  Harriet 
Seineman,  S. 
Sperry,  Lizzie 
Sperry,  Lena 
Snittel,  L. 
Starr,  Elizabeth 
Starr,  Florence  A. 


Siebenthaler,  Katie 
Scoville,  Anna 

Tull,  Lillian 
I'ownley,  Emma 
Taylor,  Lillie  K. 
Tieman,  Ida 
Taeb,  Catharine  C. 
Terrell,  Emma 
Thomson,  May 
Tront,  Mrs.  E. 
Townley,  Luella 
Tolken,  Belle 
Tittle,  Daisy  I. 
Thomson,  Mrs.  J.  A. 
Taft,  Katherine  C. 
Thompson,  Grace 
Thompson,  Lettie 
Thompson,  Lillie 
Todd, Ida 

Thompson,  Blanche  \V, 
Tilghman,  Lucy 
Theisz,  Minnie 
Truax,  Alma  .M 

Upperman,  Jennie 

Vogel,  Clara  B. 
Volz,  Laura 
Volz,  i-,ee 
Volz,  Lillie 
Valentiner,  Rosa 
VanSandt,Mrs.Wm.  B. 
Volz,  Madeline 
Vanier,  Mamie 
Vogel,  Tillie 
Volbrath,  May 
Van  Fleet,  Laura 

Wood,  Mrs.  I.  E. 
Weakley,  Faye 
Weakley,  Mrs.  E.  M. 
Williamson,  Fannie 
Warner,  Mary 
Williams,  Mrs.  P.  B. 
Wickersham,   N.  Eva 
Wechsler,  Ida 
Windmiller,  Matilda 
Wilharm,  Edith 
Webb,  Hattie  E. 


Worcester,  Mrs.  A.  M. 
Wallace,  Mrs.  Sam 
Wilkinson,  Nannie 
Windmiller,  Emma 
Wilson,  Aimee 
Wilson,  Minnie 
Wydman,  Gertrude  J. 
Wechsler,  Estella 
Weighell,  Mamie 
Warner,  Mary 
Weighell,  Elizabeth 
Wickerham,  N.  Eva 
West,  Lulu 
Wimsey,  Katie 
Woodside,  Nellie 
Walter,  Emma  A. 
Winans,  Allie 
Wood,  Emma  J. 
Wilson,  Fannie 
Wallace,  E. 
Wade,  Edith  Reno 
Williams,  Annie 
Weist,  Mrs.  W.  D. 
Wise,  Mrs.  Lillian 
Weihmann,  Lottie 
Weber,  Amelia 
Williamson,  Lula 
Worcester,  Mrs.  A.   M. 
Whittaker,  Dora 
Williams,   Mary 
Williams,  Nannie 
Weingartner,   Dollie 
Woehle,  Alma 
Wells,  Mrs.  M.  L. 
Williams,  Fannie 
Wheeler,  Clara 
White,  Jennie 
Whitefords,  Bessie 
Wade,  Edith 
Wise,  Mrs.  Wm. 
Wyman,  Lottie 

Yocum,  Cora  B. 
Verger,  Mrs.   Wm.    D. 
Yorston,  Hattie 
Yorston,  Clara  M. 

Ziefle,  Anna  M. 

Total,  738. 


24 


Manual  of  the 


TENOR    AND    BASS. 


Austin,  Charles  A. 
Allen,  J.  T. 
Abernethy,  Joe 
Allen,  James  E. 
Anderson,  W.  G. 
Albertson,  Albert 
Appleton,  Henry 
Adam,  John 
Adam,  Wm, 

Beekley,  A.  M. 
Brownlee,  Dan. 
Benzinger,  H.  L. 
Biddle,  H. 
Brooks,  R.  W. 
Bridges,  L. 
Baur,  Thee,  Jr. 
Bramkamp,  Robert 
Bingham,  Wm. 
Berry,  John  S. 
Bush,  E.  C,  Jr. 
Baer,  George 
Boring,  Zell 
Barnett,  Clifford  L. 
Bramkamp,  Allen 
Blum,  Horace  K. 
Burroughs,  T.  R. 
Boyer,  Charles  A. 
Bolser,  Jos.  A. 
Blinn,  Chas. 
Blinn,  Horace  K. 
Brown,  M.  B, 
Bush,  O.  N. 
Baldwin,  Jos.  H. 
Batticher,  E.  C. 
Brackey,  T.  H. 
Bar,  George 
Barnard,  L.  T. 
Barnett,  E.  G. 
Beach,  George 
Bonham,  Scott 
Berry,  Wm.  A. 
Bennett,  C.  E. 
Bickley,  F.  T.  D. 
Baldwin,  J.  A. 
Beierle,  Harry  W. 
Bailey,  Chas.  B. 
Black,  M.  E. 
Black,  J.  E. 
Becker,  Elbert 


Bleecker,  Geo.  W. 
Brice,  Lorett 

Cairns,  G. 
Cutter,  K.  R. 
Curnick,  R.  C. 
Curnick,  Savil 
Crone,  Alfred  C. 
Crane,  C.  C. 
Callahan,  L.  H. 
Coulter,  Wfll.  L. 
Crone,  E.  Elmer 
Cassidy,  Edwin  L. 
Cassidy,  J.  Harvey 
Carnes.  Geo.  S. 
Conner,  Wm.  O. 
Cochnouse,  R.  S. 

Driemeyer,  E.  W. 
Daniels,  W.  Nelson 
Disher,  Fred.  L. 
Deppes,  Will. 
Dierking,  A.   A.    Will. 
Driemeyer,  August 
Darnall,  J.  J. 
Doan,  Clifford  H. 
Downs,  Benj. 
Denton,  S.  F. 
Dalton,  H.  L. 
Davis,  H.  L. 
Dale,  Geo. 
Darby,  James  A. 
Davies,  J.  T. 
DeReuter,  Harry 
Devon,  John  L.  S. 
Daniels,  Harry 
Denton,  H.  N. 
Davies,  Geo.  F.,  Jr. 
Davies,  Geo.  F. 
Dawson,  Glenne  A, 

Eskew,  E.  R. 
Ellis,  Albert  T. 
Ellis,  S.  P. 
Evans,  Wm.  A. 
Eniley,  B.  P. 
Evans,  Charles  N. 
Ellison,  George 
Eckmann,  Phil. 
Eckmann,  George 


Endebrock,  John 
Emig,  George 
ElUson,  Will. 
Ellison,  Abner 
Ehrgott,  Oscar 
Elliott,  C.  F. 
Ellis,  Samuel 

Fisher,  Elmer 
Fischman,  Albert  E. 
Flukrer,  Martin  G. 
Firbes,  Julius 
Figner,  Chas.  W. 
French,  E. 
Fischer,  Ernst 
Findley,  Will.  T. 
Frohliger,  J.  C. 
Fisher,  George  J. 
Fillmore,  J.  H. 
Fillmore,  L.  C. 
French,  M. 
Foth,  Wm. 
Frahm,  AdolphJ. 
Feth,  John 
Fisher,  Geo.  Wood 

Griffith,  C.  D. 
Gross,  Wm.  F. 
Gettrust,  J.  F. 
Getty,  Robert 
Getty,  Samuel  S. 
Griep,  Otto  C. 
Goodwin,  J,  H, 
Griffiths,  Geo.  W. 
Garrison,  W.  B. 
Groff,  Harry  J. 
Green,  W.  M. 
Gillett,  W.  H. 
Geeding,  A.  H, 
Goldsberry,  Earl  B. 
Glenn,  Edgar  W. 
Geier,  Fred  A. 
Geis,  Fred.  L. 
Gross,  Albert  J. 
Gillett,  Taswell 
Gerhard,  Otto 
Gans,  Albert 
Gans,  Arthur 

HoUenberg,  Geo. 


Mills  Meetings. 


25 


Hamilton,  John 
Hoskins,  Wm. 
Ileidman,  Geo. 
Ilartzel,  Alfred 
Hinkey,  Phil. 
Helman,  Chas. 
Hill,  W.  G.,  Jr. 
Hall,   Harry 
Helman,  A.  M.,  Jr. 
Hastie,  W.  A. 
Heppes,  Otto  A. 
Hougham,    Hy.  C. 
Hill,  E.  L. 
Herdliger,  Wm. 
Hughes,  C.  W. 
Henrick,  Louis 
Herzog,  Chas.  F. 
Hill,  Lester  R. 
Hill,  Chas.  W. 
Hill,  Louis 
Hough,  O.  C. 
Halstead,  Mr. 
Hoskins,  Wm. 
Huxell,  Henry  J. 
Huxell,  Chas. 
Heisel,  Geo. 
Hutchinson,  E.  L. 
Hinkle,  Phillip 
Hey,  John 
Hunt,  Clark  N. 
Hutchins,  H.  W. 
Henderson,  Price 
Harr,  Allen  R. 
Hill,  G.  W. 
Hulley,  I,  M. 
Hesterburg,  Robert 

Irwin,  J.  L.  C. 
Inman,  E.  L. 
Izor,  Wm.   C. 

Johnson.  F.  M. 
Jones,  Dr.  R.  C. 
Jones,  Lewyllen 
Jones,  C.  M. 
Johnson,  W,  Ferree 
James,  Andrew  R. 
Johnson,  D.  H. 
Jones,  Norwood  D. 
Jones,  D.  J. 
Jones,  James 
Jemison,  D.  K. 


Kaufman,  Fred. 
Koenig,  Chas. 
Kleinschmidt,  Fred. 
Knox,  Wm. 
Keifer,  Wm. 
Keeler,  J.  Willard 
Klick,  Vincent 
King.  Frank 
K.ng,  H. 
King,  Burdette 
Klein,  Jacob 

Lambert,  Chas.  S. 
Lloyd,  Robert  J. 
Lawson,  R.  B. 
Leasure,  Albert 
Lord,  G.  E. 
Lilie,  H.  F. 
Lang,  Josepli 
Lyon,  Morton  M. 
Linck,  Thomas  Jr. 

Mullen,  Chester 
Meyers,  L.  R. 
McClure,  M.  D. 
Magly,  Geo.  Wm. 
Magley,  Wm. 
Morgan,  C.  L. 
Moore,  Thos.  J. 
Miller,  J.  Cliff 
McMillan,  Jas. 
McGregor,  Bradford 
Melborne,  Frank 
Morrison,  M.  E. 
Mossman,  James 
Mayer,  C.  W. 
Miller,  J.  A. 
Miller,  'Harry  G. 
Metcalf,  Louis 
Matthew,  R.  A. 
Macbrair,  A.  W. 
Moore,  Harry  W. 
McLaughlin,   V. 
McLaughlin,  M. 
Markworth,  John  H. 
Mattox,  W.  L. 
Meerfield,  W.  G. 
Monfort,  J.  G.  |r. 
Markly,  Arthur  J. 
Martin,  Arthur  H. 
Miller,  J.  L. 
McMiller,  Will 


Momberg,  John 
Mitchell,  P.  P. 
McGowan,  S.  B. 
McGowan,  Harry 
McGowan,  J.  W. 
Maus,  C.  Elmore 
Miller,  D.  W. 
Miller,  Julius  A. 
Miller,  Ralph  R. 

Nicholson,  Samuel  S. 
Nevin,  C.  G. 
Nieder,  Geo.  J. 
Nicholson,  Alex. 
Noland,  W.  R. 
Norris,  J.  H. 

O'Connor,  Wm. 
O'Conner,  Chas. 
Ogilvy,  Jas.  L. 
Oaks,  Guy 

Pickel,  Wm,  H. 
Peter,  Thos, 
Powell,  Mr. 
Powell,  Richard 
Paddon,  John 
Porter,  Howard  R. 
Porter,  E.  A,  F. 
Pine,  J.  W. 
Pierson,   Beulah 
Porter,  Mr. 
Perin,  M.  E. 
Perry,  Walter  N, 
PhiUips,  Wm. 
Paull,  Wm. 
Peter,  Geo.  A. 
Postel,  N. 
Poland,  Wm.  H. 
Peck,  George 
Perkins,  George 

Reeves,  James  M. 
Reeves,  George  A. 
Rogers,  John  C, 
Reynolds,  O,  A. 
Ringgold,  William  E, 
Ross,  Raymond 
Rathbone,  Robert  F, 
Reynolds,  A.  S. 
Roetken,  Alfred 
Roetken,  Oscar  H, 


26 


Mills  Meetings. 


Reynolds,  Orrin  L. 
Reynolds,  Charles  W. 
Reed,  Edward  F. 
Randall,  Leslie 
Reid,  Alex.  H.  Jr., 
Radcliffe,  John  B. 
Rechel,  Daniel 
Reeves,  S.  S. 
Radford,  W.  M. 
Riggs,  A.  R. 
Reichenbacher,Wm.  L. 
Reid,  T.  O. 

Snider,  D.  C. 
Staughton,  James 
Struble,  Charles 
Struble,  B.  B. 
Sharp,  C.  F. 
Snodgrass,  P. 
Shirey,  Charles  O. 
Spragens,  Stanley 
Smith,  Albert 
Smith,  Samuel 
Shaw,  H.  C. 
Smith,  W.  H. 
Swon,  R,  V.  S. 
Sacket,  F.  J. 
Steinback,  Edward  A. 
Spence,  Ray 
Small,  P.  J. 
Streeter,  Robert 
Sharp,  Howard 
Strampler,  Mr. 


Spining,  E.  A. 
Spining,  M.  A. 
Spining,  Ed.  M. 
Spining,  Harry  L. 
Spining,  H.  E. 
Shafer,  Mr. 
Smith,  Samuel 
Smith,  Ed. 
Smith,  W.  C. 
Straehley,  William 

Taylor,  J.  F. 
Tannehill,  J.  E. 
Thomas,  A.  W. 
Tittle,  Chas.  W. 
Timberman,  O.  J. 
Throop,  Chas.  H. 
Taylor,  Edw.  A. 
Tuttle,  Harry 
Trump,  E.  H. 
Tyler,  Grafton 

Vance,  J.  B. 
Vance,  Geo.   E, 
VanLoon,  Al. 
VanHart,  E.  S. 
Vance,  Will  T. 
Viehman,  John 

Wilson,  Fred  J. 
Williams,  Chas. 
Will,  J.  A. 
Wirthwine,  Edwin  L. 


Williams,  C.  B. 
Whitefield,  Ernest 
Wilder,  Eric 
Webber,  W.  L. 
Wozencraft,  J. 
Waterhouse,  J.  H. 
Wilcox,  T.  A. 
Wood,  Chas. 
Wylie,  Wm. 
W^arren,  Chas.  J. 
Wells,  Percy 
Weist,  Wm.  D. 
White,  Will 
Waltz,  Louis  A. 
Wallace,  Kendall 
White,  David 
Wirthwine,  Edw.  T. 
Whitteker,  A.  T. 
Wood,  Chas. 
Wylie,  Geo.  S. 
White,  Alfred 
Weakley,  Bertram  A. 
Weakley,  W.  A. 
Woodside,  J.  W. 
Whitehead,"  Mr. 
Wilson,  H.  Allen 
Winans,  Will  B. 

Young,   H.  J. 

Zimmerman,  Ed. 

Total,  382. 


"^R^^^ 


